Impact of Seed Storage Environment on Field Emergence of Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) Cultivars

Late-maturing peanut cultivars including DP-1, C-99R, Hull, Georgia-01R, and Florida MDR-98 (Arachis hypogaea L.) have improved resistance to late leaf spot, white mold, and tomato spotted wilt virus. The improved disease resistances offer potential cost savings for farmers. However, poor field emergence resulted in unacceptable plant stands and caused commercial seed companies to stop producing Florida MDR-98, DP-1, and Hull even though germination tests usually showed acceptable germination. Reduced field emergence seldom occurs when seed of these cultivars is grown, harvested, and stored in small batches in research storage facilities. To determine the effect of storage environment, pods of four cultivars were stored in four environments and the seeds were subjected to standard germination tests and immediately followed by field emergence evaluations. Cultivar affected both field emergence and germination. Storage environment affected field emergence, and to a lesser extent, germination (P = 0.0847). Peanut pods stored in a traditional peanut warehouse experienced elevated temperature and relative humidity compared to seeds stored in climate controlled facilities and those seed had reduced field emergence. There was a cultivar by storage environment interaction. Field emergence was maintained when seed was stored where temperature was below 16 C and relative humidity (RH) was less than 70%. This work suggests that seed vigor of the cultivars like DP-1 and Hull deteriorates faster than that of other cultivars when stored in commercial warehouses even though germination tests indicate that the seed should produce satisfactory plant stands.