Tissue Analyses As a Peanut Seed Quality Tool.

Tissue Analyses as a Peanut Seed Quality Tool A. K. PIERRE*, M. J. MULVANEY, West Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Jay, FL 32565 D. L. ROWLAND, Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 T. GREY, Crop and Soil Science, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA 31794 B. TILLMAN, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32446 C. W. WOOD, West Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Jay FL 32565, E. van SANTEN, Agronomy Department, Statistical Consulting Unit, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. Peanut seed maturity can have an impact on seedling stand and germination. In the development of high quality seed, calcium (Ca) and boron (B) play an important role. The objectives of this research were to 1) quantify the concentration of tissue Ca and B at various harvest dates, 2) determine the germination rate of peanut seed from various harvest dates, and 3) correlate the tissue Ca and B concentrations to peanut seed germination. Four varieties of peanut were harvested at three digging dates in Jay, FL in 2015. Leaf tissue samples were analyzed for nutrient concentrations immediately prior to digging. Pods were classified as mature and immature using the peanut profile board and the Digital Imaging Model. At each digging date, the kernels from each maturity class were analyzed for nutrient concentration. Germination was evaluated using a thermal gradient table. Based on preliminary data from the first year of this study, a correlation existed between growing degree day (GDD) and Ca concentration in the kernel and leaf. A possible correlation between B and GDD was left to answer with this year’s. No correlation was observed between GDD and germination rate using the thermal gradient table.