Abstract

Extensive genetic variation exists within peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) germplasm. For a small-scale screening of resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and flavonoid content, twenty-four accessions were selected from peanut germplasm in the US collection and planted in the greenhouse. Plant response to TSWV was observed and recorded. Leaf tissues were collected and tested by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for TSWV. Harvested seeds from mature plants were used for quantification of flavonoid content by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Seed-coat colors were also recorded. One highly resistant and eight moderately tolerant accessions to TSWV were identified within A. hypogaea and confirmed by ELISA. Peanut seeds contained trace amounts of myricetin and genistein and a low amount of daidzein and kaempferol, whereas some accessions contained a high amount of quercetin. Intriguingly, all accessions with a high amount of quercetin had a white seed-coat color. There was no clear association between resistance to TSWV and amount of quercetin observed in the accessions evaluated in this experiment.