Flavor Profiles of Wild Species-Derived Peanut Breeding Lines

Abstract Several diploid wild species of the genus Arachis L. have been used as sources of resistance to common diseases of cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Because flavor is among the most important quality attributes for commercial acceptance of roasted peanuts, sensory attributes of interspecific hybrid derived breeding lines were evaluated to determine if transfer of disease resistance from wild species is associated with concomitant changes in flavor. Sixteen interspecific hybrid derivatives with five diploid species in their ancestries and the commercial flavor standard, NC 7 were evaluated for sensory quality. Significant variation among entries was found for the roasted peanut, sweet, and bitter sensory attributes, but not for the overall contrast between NC 7 and the wild species-derived breeding lines. The variation was either between two groups of wild species-derived breeding lines or within one or both groups. Introduction of disease and pest resistance traits from Arachis species did not result in degradation or improvement of the flavor profile. This suggests that flavor of wild species-derived germplasm will not prevent its use either as parents in peanut breeding programs or as cultivars.