Assessment of the agronomic performance of twenty-two (22) peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) accessions against late leaf spot and groundnut rosette diseases in central Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Late leaf spot and groundnut rosette are major constraints to groundnut cultivation, especially in the second crop cycle in central Côte d’Ivoire. This study was initiated to improve peanut production. It was conducted on 22 peanut accessions using a randomized complete block design with three (03) replications. In each elementary plot, agromorphological, and health parameters were assessed on ten plants per accession. A symptom rating scale was used to assess disease severity. The results showed that the agromorphological parameters were higher in the first cycle than in the second. Accessions ARA42, ARA60, ARA56, and ARA51, moderately resistant or tolerant to groundnut rosette and susceptible to late leaf spot, gave the best seed yields in the second cycle, which varied between 1.42 and 1.59 tons per hectare (t/ha). Those highly susceptible to these parasitic diseases (ARA55, ARA40, ARA39, ARA54, ARA57, and ARA53) gave the lowest yields ranging from 0.131 to 0.996 t/ha over the same period. Groundnut rosette and late leaf spot attacks were less severe in the first crop cycle than in the second, with mean severity ranging from 36.5 to 51.5% and 24.9 to 55.5%, respectively. Accessions ARA42, ARA60, ARA56, and ARA51 should be the subject of a rigorous selection program and made available to growers. As a result, yield losses during the second crop cycle, from July to October, will be reduced, and the use of synthetic chemical pesticides in peanut cultivation will be limited.

Public Interest Statement

The manuscript reveals the biotic constraints linked to groundnut production in the second crop cycle between July and October. This document is important for public authorities, development and groundnut sector stakeholders and small-scale producers who make a living from this activity. The article shows that production losses in the second crop cycle are more than 60%. But these losses can be reduced or mitigated by using resistant or tolerant genotypes. To this end, this paper presents resistant or tolerant groundnut varieties that can be used in the second crop cycle to limit production losses. Given the importance of groundnuts in cropping systems, in the agri-food industry, for human and animal consumption, for medicinal purposes and as a source of income for small-scale producers, this article provides an opportunity to produce groundnuts over both cropping cycles (March to June and July to October).

Keywords:

• Peanut accessions
• late leaf spot
• groundnut rosette
• disease severity
• Côte d’Ivoire

Reviewing Editor:

• Manuel Tejada, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

Subjects:

• Agriculture; Agriculture and Food; Plant Pathology; Mycology; Environment & Health; Biodiversity & Conservation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA) authorities, particularly those of the Research Station on Food Crops in Bouaké, for having made plots available to us to set up the experiment. We would also like to thank Mr. KANATE Issouf, Senior Technician at the CNRA, and Mr. KOUASSI Kouakou, Specialist Worker at the CNRA, for setting up the peanut trial.

Authors’ contributions

This work was carried out in perfect collaboration between all the authors. MFDPN initiated the study, corrected the protocol, provided all the materials and documentation needed to carry out the work, and contributed to the drafting of the manuscript. AAGG developed the protocol, supervised the agricultural fieldwork and post-harvest activities, and drafted the manuscript. NDK carried out the statistical analyses of the data collected, contributed to the drafting of the manuscript, and participated in translating the manuscript into English. Author 4 (BUK) conducted the agricultural activities, collected the data, participated in the statistical analyses and contributed to the drafting of the manuscript. Author 5 (LF) contributed to the interpretation of the results and the drafting of the manuscript. Authors 6 (CLO), 7 (AFN), 8 (EOT), and 9 (KA) corrected the manuscript in French and English.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no known competing interests.

Data availability statement

The information presented in this study is available on request from the corresponding author.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique, INTERCOTON and Agence Française de Développement.

Notes on contributors

Kouabenan Abo

This manuscript is based on the results of research carried out by the Vegetable and Protein Crops Program of the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA) in Côte d’Ivoire. This program is made up of researchers of various specialities holding a PhD from the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny de Cocody and the Université Nangui Abrogoua (Côte d’Ivoire). There are two researchers in Plant Genetics and Breeding, two researchers in Agro-Physiology, one researcher in Plant Pathology and Eco-Health and one researcher in Entomology. The aim of the research program is to contribute to a sustainable increase in market garden and protein crop production in Côte d’Ivoire. To achieve this, the research team is working to improve the productivity and health quality of vegetable and protein crops, including peanuts. The research team works in collaboration with several national and international agricultural research institutions and receives funding from national and international organisations via the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Photo of the authors and technicians

The researchers are white coats and technicians in blue coats.