Assessment of Oil Content and Fatty Acid Composition Variability in the U.S. Peanut Mini-Core.

The established U.S. peanut minicore encompassing 112 accessions is useful resources for peanut breeders, geneticists, and curators. Oil content and fatty acid composition are important seed quality traits which can significantly affect the peanut price, nutrition value and down-stream processing. Within the U.S. minicore, 108 available accessions were planted in the same location (Headland, Alabama) for two years. The collected seeds were used for oil content measurement and fatty acid analysis. Significant variation on oil content (43.2% - 55.9%) was detected among accessions. Significant variation on fatty acid composition was also detected and the ratio of oleic acid and linoleic acid (O/L) was from 0.93 to 3.58. The accessions in the U.S. minicore did not contain high extremes (for example, accessions with 60% oil content or 80% oleic acid). In addition to oil content and fatty acid composition, resveratrol and flavonoid content were also analyzed. The results obtained from this study will be useful for peanut breeding programs on selection of accessions as breeding materials as well as further expanding the U.S. peanut minicore.