Related Publications

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2026 May 19;123(20):e2530814123. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2530814123. Epub 2026 May 12.

ABSTRACT

Cis-regulatory elements are specific DNA sequences that control gene expression in a spatiotemporal manner, and variation within these elements represents a major source of phenotypic diversity and evolutionary innovation. Nevertheless, how regulatory elements evolve and shape gene expression remains poorly understood, particularly in plants. The well-resolved phylogeny of allopolyploid peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and its diploid progenitors, Arachis duranensis and Arachis ipaensis, provides an ideal system to investigate the regulatory evolution at a lineage-specific level. By integrating comparative analyses of sequence similarity, chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs), and gene expression, we reconstructed the evolutionary trajectories of Accessible Chromatin Regions (ACRs), where regulatory elements typically reside, and revealed their distinct contributions to homoeolog expression bias, unequal expressions between homoeologs. Most ACRs exhibited high sequence similarity, comparable chromatin accessibility, and conserved states for H3K4me3, H3K56ac, and H3K36me3, indicating regulatory stability after hybridization and polyploidization. However, a subset of novel ACRs emerged de novo from previously nonregulatory regions or through sequence mutations in preexisting ACRs, arising at different rates and evolutionary stages. Notably, even highly sequence-conserved ACRs exhibited substantial variation in chromatin accessibility, consistent with CNS composition differences and minor sequence variation, although causal relationships remain to be demonstrated. Our analyses further revealed a complex spectrum of CNS dynamics within the diploid-polyploid framework. Overall, our study provides empirical insights into the fine-scale evolution of plant regulatory landscapes and complements previous large-scale comparisons across distant lineages.

PMID:42118842 | DOI:10.1073/pnas.2530814123

Plant Cell Environ. 2026 May 12. doi: 10.1111/pce.70595. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Against the background of global climate change, drought stress is a major factor limiting plant growth and development. A previous study demonstrated that Claroideoglomus etunicatum (C. etunicatum) could increase drought resistance in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), yet the mechanisms underlying this effect remain largely unclear. Here, the mechanisms by which C. etunicatum recruited beneficial bacteria through rhizodeposits to improve host drought resistance were investigated. In a soil microcosm system, C. etunicatum increased peanut drought resistance by enriching Sphingomonas spp. in the rhizosphere, with rhizodeposits likely playing a key role in this recruitment. Furthermore, metabolomic and whole-genome sequencing analyses revealed a cross-kingdom signalling cascade in which C. etunicatum induced the accumulation of the first signalling molecule, L-cysteine, in the rhizodeposits of host plants. The synthesis of a second signalling molecule, zeatin, in Sphingomonas sp. W9 was further promoted by L-cysteine through regulation of key genes in the relevant biosynthetic pathways. Exogenous application experiments confirmed that zeatin significantly improved peanut drought resistance. In summary, this study revealed a mechanism by which the rhizosphere microbial community affected drought resistance through a cross-kingdom signalling cascade, thereby providing new insights into plant-microbe cooperation under environmental stress.

PMID:42117573 | DOI:10.1111/pce.70595

Food Res Int. 2026 Jul 31;236:119299. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2026.119299. Epub 2026 Apr 26.

ABSTRACT

Aflatoxins in peanuts and peanut products remain a key food-safety concern, with occurrence shaped by climate and post-harvest conditions. This study aimed to compare fungal contamination and aflatoxin occurrence in peanuts and peanut butters acquired in Brazil and in Mediterranean markets. Thirty-two samples (21 peanuts; 11 peanut butters) were analyzed for water activity (a_w), moisture, aflatoxins (HPLC), microbiological counts, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes detection, culture-dependent fungal identification, and fungal metataxonomics. Total aflatoxins in Brazilian peanuts ranged from 2.10 to 9.28 μg/kg, none exceeding Brazil's 20 μg/kg limit. In Mediterranean peanuts, one sample exceeded the European Union (EU) 4.0 μg/kg total-aflatoxin limit. In Mediterranean peanut butters, two samples exceeded the EU limit. No Brazilian peanut butter exceeded the national limit. Isolates from Mediterranean peanuts were identified as Cladosporium (50%), followed by Aspergillus (25%), Penicillium (12.5%), Talaromyces (6.25%), and Trechispora (6.25%), whereas Brazilian isolates were exclusively Aspergillus spp.. Metataxonomics of the most contaminated Brazilian peanuts revealed communities dominated by Aspergillus and Fusarium, with occasional co-occurrence of eight other fungal genera. Despite generally compliant aflatoxin levels, exceedances against EU limits were observed in some Mediterranean products. Fungal community structure, particularly dominance of Aspergillus section Flavi, appears more indicative of aflatoxin risk than total fungal load, underscoring the value of integrated monitoring (aw/moisture), targeted mycological surveillance, and molecular profiling across production chains.

PMID:42116520 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodres.2026.119299

Sci Rep. 2026 May 11. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-52544-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study reports the phytogenic synthesis and multifunctional evaluation of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (MoONPs) using Pterocarpus santalinus leaf extract as a natural reducing and stabilising agent. The synthesised MoONPs exhibited a distinct surface plasmon resonance peak at 364 nm, confirming their formation. FE-SEM/EDAX revealed spherical, high-purity nanoparticles, while XRD confirmed an orthorhombic crystalline phase with an average crystallite size of 35.71 nm. FT-IR identified functional groups involved in capping and stabilisation. MoONPs demonstrated significant antioxidant activity (40.21% ABTS inhibition at 100 µg/mL), comparable to ascorbic acid and superior to the extract alone. They also exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against phytopathogenic bacteria (X. campestris, P. syringae, C. michiganensis, S. aureus) and fungi (A. niger, A. flavus), demonstrating notable antimicrobial activity compared to standard controls. As a seed-priming agent for Arachis hypogaea, MoONPs enhanced germination (up to 227.5%), vigour index (up to 379.4), and root/shoot elongation. MoONPs boosted nitrate reductase activity by 67%, increased chlorophyll content by 79%, and improved biomass accumulation and plant height. Collectively, these findings indicate that Pterocarpus santalinus-mediated MoONPs exhibit multifunctional properties with potential applications as nano-fertilizers and biocontrol agents in agriculture; however, further studies are required to evaluate their safety and environmental impact before practical implementation.

PMID:42115762 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-52544-1

Front Plant Sci. 2026 Apr 22;17:1783977. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1783977. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Continuous cultivation and excessive chemical fertilizer use have led to increased soil compaction in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) fields, significantly hindering plant growth and development. Organic fertilizer can improve soil nutrient content, aeration, and overall soil environments, thereby promoting healthy plant growth. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of substituting chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer on peanut growth under compaction stress are still elusive. To investigate the responses of peanut root traits, soil physicochemical properties, and microbial community structure to organic fertilizer substitution under soil compaction, a pot experiment was conducted using two compaction levels (1.2 and 1.6 g/cm³) and three organic fertilizer rates (0, 120, 240 g/pot) in Laixi, Shandong Province, a major peanut producing area. Results showed that organic fertilizer significantly improved plant biomass, height, stem diameter, and nodule fresh weight during the flowering and podding stages. Root traits including total root length, total surface area, and root volume, were significantly increased, especially at the podding stage (p < 0.05). The number of xylem vessels increased under 1.2 g/cm³ compaction but showed no significant change under 1.6 g/cm³. Soil available phosphorus and potassium contents increased with higher fertilizer rates. Distance-based redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities were affected by soil physical and chemical properties. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) indicated that soil organic matter was positively correlated with soil enzyme activity, which indirectly enhanced fungal diversity, while bacterial diversity showed negative correlation with soil organic matter. In conclusion, applying organic fertilizer in accordance with soil compaction levels offers an efficient strategy to improve soil microbial structure, enhance soil fertility, and promote peanut growth under compacted field conditions.

PMID:42100034 | PMC:PMC13147184 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2026.1783977

Plant Direct. 2026 May 6;10:e70170. doi: 10.1002/pld3.70170. eCollection 2026 May.

ABSTRACT

Peanut reproduction is foundational for crop yield, breeding, and evolution. However, gene regulation underlying peanut flowering pattern and timing has received limited attention. Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) shows two distinct flowering patterns between two subspecies, with ssp. hypogaea lacking flowers on the main stem and ssp. fastigiata having them. Understanding the gene regulatory networks that control peanut flowering will inform the genetic pathways impacting peanut reproduction, phenology, and yield. To this end, we measured whole-transcriptome gene expression of leaves and shoot tips (meristem) at six plant growth stages from Tifrunner, a peanut cultivar belonging to ssp. hypogaea, and GT-C20, a peanut germplasm belonging to ssp. fastigiata. Overall gene expression was distinct between the two genotypes in both tissue types. Flowering regulators including AhFT, AhSOC1, AhAGL42, and AhSPL3 were differentially expressed in both the main and lateral stem at the time of flowering initiation (T3-first bloom). This indicates that positive regulation of these flowering regulators drives the distinct pattern of flowering on the main stem in GT-C20. Meanwhile, the differential expression of two RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligases was identified between the two genotypes, indicating that the PAF1-complex (PAF1C) may contribute to the lack of flowering on the main stem of Tifrunner. Gene co-expression network analysis indicates that gibberellic acid (GA) and jasmonic acid (JA) pathways are involved in reproductive regulation. These results provide insight into how flowering physiology is differentially controlled between the two peanut subspecies and provide a launching point for additional research in peanut floral development.

PMID:42099581 | PMC:PMC13147162 | DOI:10.1002/pld3.70170

BMC Plant Biol. 2026 May 7. doi: 10.1186/s12870-026-08883-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oil and economic crop, and its production has long been severely threatened by soil-borne bacterial wilt (BW) disease. However, the molecular mechanism of host resistance to it has not yet been systematically elucidated. In this study, the highly resistant peanut variety Zhonghua 6 was used as the research object. Through transcriptomic analysis, a total of 1,122 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between carefully designed treatment and control groups. WGCNA analysis led to the discovery of 14 hub genes, including two cytochrome P450 genes and a UGDH gene. Through metabolomic analysis, 1,614 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified, and 6-methylcoumarin, erucamide, and piceatannol were confirmed to inhibit the growth of R. solanacearum. Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses uncovered a comprehensive immune regulatory network consisted of genes involved in key pathways associated with R. solanacearum infection such as MAPK signaling, plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and ABC transporter. Overall, these results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms governing peanut resistance to R. solanacearum, which might assist in the mining of resistance-related genes, developing of new disease control measures as well as breeding of novel disease-resistant cultivars in peanut.

PMID:42098626 | DOI:10.1186/s12870-026-08883-2

Front Plant Sci. 2026 Apr 17;17:1799353. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1799353. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a crucial industrial crop whose production is severely limited by drought and salt stress. The CPP (cysteine-rich polycomb-like protein) gene family encodes cysteine-rich transcription factors with CXC domains that are involved in plant development and stress responses in addition to transcriptional regulation. However, their functional characterization in peanut remains largely unexplored. Here, the CPP gene family in peanut was systematically identified using bioinformatics approaches, after which its structural and functional attributes were comprehensively characterized. In total, 24 CPP genes were identified in the peanut genome; these genes were unevenly distributed across 15 chromosomes, with a relatively high density observed on chromosomes 9 and 16. All paralogs showed Ka/Ks less than 1, indicating strong purifying selection and functional conservation. A comparison of synteny revealed widespread collinearity of AhCPP genes across monocots and dicots, with AhCPP5 and AhCPP18 maintaining synteny in five species, highlighting their evolutionary stability. An analysis of cis-regulatory elements in AhCPP genes revealed the enrichment of diverse regulatory motifs, suggesting their potential roles in hormone signaling and stress responses in peanut. In addition, 116 putative miRNAs targeting 24 AhCPP genes were identified. Moreover, the transcriptomic analysis further revealed that AhCPP genes exhibited tissue- and stress-specific expression profiles in response to diverse abiotic stresses and hormonal stimuli. qRT-PCR analysis of six selected AhCPP genes suggested their potential involvement in the transcriptional regulation of drought and salt stress responses during the peanut seedling stage. Taken together, these findings provide a foundation for future functional investigations of AhCPPs for peanut breeding.

PMID:42078146 | PMC:PMC13132734 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2026.1799353

Plants (Basel). 2026 Apr 17;15(8):1243. doi: 10.3390/plants15081243.

ABSTRACT

A large proportion of global peanut cultivation occurs in arid and semiarid environments, where water scarcity poses a major limitation to productivity. Climate change further intensifies this challenge by causing irregular rainfall patterns. This study aimed to investigate the physiological and yield responses of peanut genotypes under well-watered and water-stressed conditions. Seven genotypes, five drought-tolerant (C76-16, Line-8, PI 502120, AU-NPL-17 and AU16-28) and two drought-sensitive (Valencia-C and AP-3) were evaluated under two irrigation regimes across consecutive years (2024 and 2025). Seven yield-associated traits (number of pods per plant, pod length, pod width, pod yield per plant, seed weight, hundred-seed weight and pod yield per plot) along with three physiological traits (stomatal conductance, photosynthetic efficiency and leaf temperature) were measured at three growth stages. Drought stress caused a significant reduction in almost all traits, including pod yield per plot (42-44%) and hundred-seed weight (24-38%). Stomatal conductance showed the greatest reduction at all stages, especially during flowering (31-80%) and pod filling (45-74%) stages. Correlation analysis revealed that yield-related traits were negatively correlated with stomatal conductance at pod-filling under water-stress conditions. Genotypes such as PI 502120, AU-NPL-17 and C76-16 maintained higher yields with less reduction under water-stressed conditions. This study also confirmed that Line-8 employs a water-saver strategy, whereas PI 502120 uses a water-spender mechanism to cope with water stress. Additionally, findings showed that the flowering and pod-filling stages are more severely affected physiologically by drought stress, which likely contributed to the observed yield reduction.

PMID:42075445 | PMC:PMC13119915 | DOI:10.3390/plants15081243

Plants (Basel). 2026 Apr 13;15(8):1193. doi: 10.3390/plants15081193.

ABSTRACT

Soil salinization is a significant global challenge that severely impacts agricultural productivity, particularly through its negative effects on crop growth and yield. Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) are an important oil crop. One of the major goals in peanut breeding programs is to develop varieties with both high oil content and salt tolerance. Previously, we obtained a peanut line (HO) with high oil content through mutagenesis, which showed higher salt tolerance than its parental line (HY20). In this study, we employed multiple approaches including anatomical, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses to elucidate salt tolerance mechanisms of the HO peanut line. Under salt stress, the HO line exhibited better-developed vascular structures, with increased root vessel diameter and higher crystal idioblast density in leaves compared to HY20. HO also showed enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, with POD and SOD activities higher than HY20. Photosynthetic efficiency was substantially improved in HO, with Fv/Fm decreasing under severe salt stress. Additionally, HO maintained a lower Na⁺/K⁺ ratio and higher linolenic acid content under salt stress. Transcriptomic analysis revealed up-regulated lignin biosynthesis genes in HO. This study established potential connections between salt stress tolerance and oil biosynthesis in peanuts, providing insights that could be leveraged for the development of high-yield and salt-resistant varieties.

PMID:42075395 | PMC:PMC13119500 | DOI:10.3390/plants15081193

Nutrients. 2026 Apr 16;18(8):1252. doi: 10.3390/nu18081252.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Peanut oral immunotherapy (P-OIT) is an emerging treatment strategy for peanut allergy (PA). Although a standardized pharmaceutical product, Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Allergen Powder-dnfp, has been approved in several countries, it is not universally available. In such contexts, real-world protocols using readily utilizable peanut products may represent an alternative approach. This study aimed to describe the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of P-OIT using toasted peanuts in a real-world effort in a pediatric population. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled children who initiated P-OIT at our tertiary pediatric hospital Allergy Unit between April 2015 and December 2024. Demographic and clinical features, allergy test results, and information about P-OIT were recorded. Desensitization was defined as tolerance of 630 mg of peanut protein (PP). Results: Sixty patients (51.7% male; median age 8.2 years) were included. 22/60 (36.7%) achieved desensitization within a median time of 22.7 months. 21/60 (35%) were still undergoing P-OIT at a median tolerated dose of 100 mg of PP, and 17/60 (28.3%) discontinued treatment, most commonly due to loss to follow-up (44%). At least one adverse reaction occurred in 43/60 (71.7%) patients, predominantly mild and self-limiting (68.3% resolved spontaneously, 39.5% occurred at home). However, 11/60 (18.3%) showed anaphylaxis, and 3/60 (5%) received adrenaline. A reduction in Ara h 2 serum-specific IgE levels compared to the baseline was observed in patients completing escalation (p = 0.03). Conclusions: In this real-world single-center cohort, P-OIT using toasted peanuts was feasible in a subset of patients and was associated predominantly with mild adverse reactions, although systemic reactions were also recorded. Treatment discontinuation and adherence remain relevant challenges. These findings highlight the need for prospective, controlled studies to better define the role, safety profile, and patient selection criteria for food-based P-OIT protocols in settings where standardized products are not available.

PMID:42075065 | PMC:PMC13118600 | DOI:10.3390/nu18081252

Front Genome Ed. 2026 Apr 15;8:1789952. doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2026.1789952. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Legumes are among the most important protein-rich crops in global agri-food systems. To meet the rising protein demand of a growing population, significant efforts are underway to enhance legume yield, nutritional quality, and resilience to environmental stresses through the manipulation of key genetic traits. Advanced technologies-including genetic engineering, gene editing, genomic selection, next-generation sequencing, single-cell genomics, and multi-omics-are accelerating legume improvement due to their high precision and efficiency. This review focuses on major gene-editing technologies, namely, CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9), TALENs (Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases), ZFNs (Zinc Finger Nucleases), base editing (BE), and prime editing (PE), and their applications in key legume crops such as soybean (Glycine max), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), pea (Pisum sativum), barrel clover (Medicago truncatula), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and Lotus japonicus. Among these platforms, CRISPR/Cas9 is the most widely adopted in legumes, largely due to its simplicity, versatility, and dependence on accurate genome sequence information and guide RNA (gRNA) design. Advances in next-generation sequencing and the growing availability of intuitive online gRNA design tools have streamlined CRISPR workflows, improving accessibility and precision. The present review indicates that CRISPR-P is the most used gRNA design tool in legume research, likely due to its early development for plant systems and integrated off-target prediction features. Therefore, alongside reviewing gene-editing applications, we emphasized the critical role of robust gRNA design tools as a foundation for successful genome editing. Future integration of artificial intelligence and large language models is expected to further enhance target prediction accuracy, minimize off-target effects, and enable more precise genome-editing strategies in legumes.

PMID:42064040 | PMC:PMC13126311 | DOI:10.3389/fgeed.2026.1789952

PLoS One. 2026 Apr 30;21(4):e0347850. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0347850. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Groundnut is an important oil seed crop in Ethiopia, providing food, oil, and industrial products while contributing to soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. However, its production is limited by narrow genetic variability, low-yielding varieties, and environmental stresses, making it essential to assess genetic diversity among existing genotypes for effective breeding and improvement. The present study was carried out to assess the extent of genetic variability among groundnut genotypes for agro-morphological and quality traits. Thirty-six groundnut genotypes were evaluated in a 6 x 6 simple lattice design during 2023 post-rainy season under irrigation at Dire Dawa, the research station of Haramaya university, Ethiopia. Data were collected on kernel yield and other morphological traits, oil content and oil yield. The data on traits were subjected to principal component (PC) analysis, clustering and Euclidean distance. In this study, the first six Principal Components Analysis (PCA) found to be significant and accounted for 74.51% of the total variation in which the first principal component (PC1) and the second principal component (PC2) contributed more to the variation. PC1 and PC2, capturing most of the variation, identify the key traits contributing to genetic diversity, guiding the selection of distinct parents for effective groundnut breeding. Clustering of the genotypes resulted in six major clusters, and the dendrogram showed that cluster I, II, III, IV, V and VI included 6, 9, 8, 5, 7 and 1 genotypes, respectively. The result implies that, genotypes within the same cluster are genetically similar, while those in different clusters are more diverse, providing opportunities to select distinct parents for effective breeding. Euclidean distance ranged from 2.45 to 8.54 with the mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation of 5.44, 1.17 and 21.56%, respectively. Based on the result of the current study, there were variations of genetic distances among genotypes, Gv17 and Gv28, Gv3 and Gv23, Gv3 and Gv30, Gv15 and Gv17, Gv22 and Gv28, and Gv3 and Gv34 which could be exploited through hybridization for cultivar development in groundnut breeding programs in Ethiopia. Therefore, the genetically divergent genotypes identified in this study provide valuable parental material for hybridization, offering strong potential for the development of improved groundnut varieties adapted to Ethiopian agro-ecologies.

PMID:42060687 | PMC:PMC13132432 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0347850

Sci Rep. 2026 Apr 29. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-42773-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Weeds are a major constraint to peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production, causing substantial yield and quality losses. This study was conducted during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons to evaluate the effects of different pre- and post-emergence herbicides on weeds and peanut yield under field conditions. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments included one non-selective burndown herbicide (glyphosate), two pre-emergence herbicides (pendimethalin and dimethanamid p), four post-emergence herbicides (bentazon, quizalofop-p-ethyl, imazamox, clethodim), applied alone or in selected sequences. Weed control varied significantly with herbicides type, weed species, and evaluation time. Control levels increased markedly at 21 and 35 days after treatments (DAT) but declined by 105 DAT, indicating reduced residual activityand late weed emergence. The post-emergence combinations of bentazon + quizalofop-P-ethyl and bentazon + imazamox provided the highest weed control (88.2% and 88.9%, respectively) and significantly reduced weed dry biomass. Weed interference reduced peanut yield by approximately 60-70% copared with the weed-free control. All effective herbicide treatments significantly reduced weed biomass and prevent yield loss, leading to substiantially higher than the weedy control. Overall, the findings indicate that appropriate herbicide selection and optimized application timing play a critical role in achieving effective weed control and minimizing yield losses in peanut production.

PMID:42049818 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-42773-9

Plant Phenomics. 2025 Nov 5;7(4):100139. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphe.2025.100139. eCollection 2025 Dec.

ABSTRACT

Plant height (PH) is closely linked to yield potential, lodging resistance, and mechanized harvesting efficiency in peanut cultivation. However, breeding efforts for optimized PH are hindered by limited understanding of its genetic architecture. In this study, we utilized a UAV-based high-throughput phenotyping platform to monitor the dynamic growth of 241 peanut accessions across four trials. Using UAV-LiDAR data, we precisely measured time-series PH and applied Gaussian fitting and principal component analysis (PCA) to extract five dynamic growth parameters: parameter a (maximum plant height), b (time to reach maximum height), c (variation extent of PH), P C 1 (interpreted as average height), and P C 2 (growth rate). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 1133 candidate genes associated with parameters a, b, c, P C 1 and P C 2 , and differential expression of genes (DEGs) analysis combined with weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) further identified Arahy.1026BX as a candidate gene. This gene is involved in the shikimate pathway and is crucial for the synthesis of auxin and lignin. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) experiments validated the significant effect of Arahy.1026BX on peanut PH. Overall, our study integrates advanced UAV-LiDAR time-series phenotyping with genome-wide association study to identify potential candidate genes associated with PH, which providing valuable breeding insights for developing peanut varieties with ideal PH and improving peanut yield.

PMID:42041020 | PMC:PMC13109324 | DOI:10.1016/j.plaphe.2025.100139

Nat Genet. 2026 Apr 24. doi: 10.1038/s41588-026-02577-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a globally significant leguminous oil crop. Here we present telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies for two diploid and four tetraploid peanut varieties, resulting in high-quality reference genomes, showing that the complex activities of transposable elements, chromosomal rearrangements and centromere expansions within subgenomes collectively contribute to the asymmetrical evolution of the tetraploid genome, and unique structural variants in the four tetraploid peanut varieties provide clear evidence of domestication. Population analyses of 521 peanut accessions revealed asymmetric selection events between subgenomes during breeding, and genome-wide association studies identified candidate genes linked to oil content, seed size and weight, kernel dehydration rate, and arachidic acid content. In addition, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed enhanced activity in lipidomic and anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways during seed development. These comprehensive findings provide insights into genome organization, evolutionary dynamics and phenotypic differentiation across peanut varieties that could inform future peanut breeding and improvement strategies.

PMID:42032297 | DOI:10.1038/s41588-026-02577-z

Food Sci Nutr. 2026 Mar 23;14(3):e71682. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.71682. eCollection 2026 Mar.

ABSTRACT

In traditional Chinese medicine, Arachis hypogaea L. root extract (AHRE), and other parts of the plant historically have been used to manage benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Hence, to evaluate the therapeutic effect of AHRE on testosterone-induced BPH in ICR mice, BPH was induced by daily subcutaneous testosterone propionate injections (6 mg/kg BW) in olive oil for 30 days. AHRE was orally administered at 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg BW daily, with finasteride (1 mg/kg BW) used as the positive control. HPLC-qTOF-MS/MS identified 19 compounds in 70% ethanolic AHRE, with resveratrol quantified at 1.12 mg/g dry weight. Prostate weight (PW), prostatic index (PI), histopathological changes, serum concentrations of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T), estradiol (E₂), and T/E₂ ratio, along with androgen receptor (AR) levels and the relative mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), estrogen receptors (ER-α and ER-β), lipoxygenase-5 (LOX-5), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were measured. High-dose AHRE (300 mg/kg) reduced PW by 84.07%, significantly reduced glandular hyperplasia, prostatic cell counts, PAP, DHT, and AR levels (p < 0.05). It also downregulated relative mRNA expression of inflammation-related genes, including ER-α (1.6-fold), 5-LOX (1.65-fold), and COX-2 (1.36-fold). Preliminary gut microbiota analysis revealed treatment-associated increases in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium, which showed robust negative correlations with PW (ρ = -0.95, q < 0.001), PI (ρ = -0.96, q < 0.001), and inflammatory markers, a genus linked to enhanced gut barrier function and control of systemic inflammation, potentially contributing to the observed improvements in BPH phenotypes.

PMID:42016224 | PMC:PMC13093758 | DOI:10.1002/fsn3.71682

J Agric Food Chem. 2026 Apr 29;74(16):12705-12719. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c13201. Epub 2026 Apr 20.

ABSTRACT

WRKY transcription factors play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Arachis duranensis, a diploid progenitor of cultivated peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), serves as a valuable genetic resource for improving stress tolerance in peanut breeding. In this study, heterologous expression of AdWRKY40 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced drought tolerance. Overexpression of AdWRKY40 in A. thaliana also led to reduced leaf area. Mechanistically, AdWRKY40 directly repressed polygalacturonase 1 β 3 (AdPGL3) expression. Overexpression of AdPGL3 in yeast and A. thaliana increased drought sensitivity. Further analyses revealed that AdWRKY40 enhances drought tolerance by modulating the reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway independently of the abscisic acid pathway. Low-temperature treatment suppressed AdWRKY40 expression, reversed the small-leaf phenotype, and diminished drought tolerance in transgenic lines. Collectively, our findings establish AdWRKY40 as a negative regulator of AdPGL3 that enhances drought tolerance by modulating the ROS pathway and temperature-dependent signaling.

PMID:42003745 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jafc.5c13201

Plant Biotechnol J. 2026 Apr 18. doi: 10.1111/pbi.70667. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oilseed and cash crop, and seed sucrose content (SSC), seed oil content (SOC) and seed protein content (SPC) are key determinants of seed flavour, texture, and overall quality. Identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes associated with SSC, SOC and SPC is therefore of considerable importance for peanut genetics and breeding. In this study, two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations derived from reciprocal crosses between the lines Jihuatian1 (JHT1) and PI478819 (PI) were used to detect major QTLs for SSC, SOC and SPC through bulked segregant analysis combined with whole-genome sequencing (BSA-seq). Multiple lines of evidence supported the homologous gene pair AhSUCA06 and AhSUCA16 as candidate genes underlying the epistatic QTLs qA06.1 and qA16.1, which exhibited major and stable effects across multiple phenotypic evaluations. Furthermore, the function of AhSUCA06 was validated through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic transformation. Subcellular localization assays using GFP fusion proteins, together with dual-luciferase reporter assays, demonstrated that AhSUCA06 and AhSUCA16-both containing a DUF7950 domain of previously unknown function-localize to the nucleus and act as transcriptional repressors. In addition, DAP-seq analysis suggested that these genes may regulate pathways related to glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Overall, this study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of SSC, SOC and SPC in peanut and offers valuable information to support the genetic improvement of seed quality traits in peanut breeding programs.

PMID:41999140 | DOI:10.1111/pbi.70667

Sensors (Basel). 2026 Apr 2;26(7):2208. doi: 10.3390/s26072208.

ABSTRACT

Determining the optimal harvest time is among the most critical economic decisions for peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growers, directly influencing yield, quality, and market value. Unlike many other crops, peanuts are indeterminate, continuing to flower and produce pods throughout their life cycle. As a result, pod development and maturation are asynchronous, making harvest timing particularly challenging. Conventional maturity estimation techniques, including the hull scrape method, pod blasting, and visual maturity profiling, are invasive, labor-intensive, time-consuming, and spatially limited. Moreover, differences in cultivar maturity rates and agroclimatic conditions exacerbate inconsistencies in maturity prediction. These challenges highlight the urgent need for scalable, objective, and data-driven methods to support growers in achieving optimal harvest outcomes. This review synthesizes the current understanding of peanut pod maturity and evaluates existing traditional and non-invasive approaches for maturity estimation. It aims to identify the limitations of conventional techniques and explore the integration of advanced sensing technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and geospatial analytics to enhance precision and scalability in peanut maturity assessment and harvest decision-making. This review examines traditional destructive techniques such as the hull scrape method and pod blasting, followed by emerging non-invasive methods employing proximal and remote sensing platforms. Applications of vegetation indices, multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, and AI-based data analytics are discussed in the context of maturity prediction. Additionally, the potential of multimodal remote sensing data fusion and digital frameworks integrating spatial big data analytics, centralized data management, and cloud-based graphical interfaces is explored as a pathway toward end-to-end decision-support systems. Recent advances in non-invasive sensing and AI-assisted modeling have demonstrated significant improvements in scalability, precision, and automation compared with traditional manual approaches. However, their effectiveness remains constrained by the limited inclusion of agroclimatic, phenological, and cultivar-specific variables. Furthermore, the translation of model outputs into actionable, field-level harvest decisions is still underdeveloped, underscoring the need for integrated, user-centric digital infrastructure. Achieving a robust and transferable digital peanut maturity estimation system will require comprehensive ground-truth data across cultivars, regions, and growing seasons. Multidisciplinary collaborations among agronomists, data scientists, growers, and technology providers will be essential for developing practical, field-ready solutions. Integrating AI, multimodal sensing, and geospatial analytics holds immense potential to transform peanut maturity estimation. Such innovations promise to enhance harvest precision, economic returns, and sustainability while reducing manual effort and uncertainty, ultimately improving the efficiency and quality of life for peanut producers worldwide.

PMID:41977993 | PMC:PMC13075220 | DOI:10.3390/s26072208