Abstract:

This study aims to evaluate the yield performance, quality traits, and regional adaptability of ‘Linhua 16’, a new fresh-eating peanut cultivar developed through irradiation-induced mutagenesis, and to provide a basis for expanding its suitable cultivation regions and promoting its application. Using a sweet local peanut landrace from Hebei Province ‘Hebei Nongjia Tianhuasheng’ as the donor material, ‘Linhua 16’ was bred through ⁶⁰Co-γ irradiation followed by multi-generation directional selection, and was registered in 2019 under China’s National Variety Registration System for Non-major Crops, with the registration number of GPD Peanut (2019) 370023. In the Shandong Provincial Regional Trials conducted over two consecutive years (2013-2014), the average pod yield and kernel yield of ‘Linhua 16’ were 5675.51 and 4113.17 kg/hm², respectively, which were 9.20% and 10.47% higher than those of the control cultivar (‘Shanhua 9’). In 2023, ‘Linhua 16’ was included in a joint national demonstration and validation trial for fresh-eating peanut at nine locations. The results showed that its whole growth period ranged from 115 to 145 d, with an average 100-pod weight of 210.15 g, average 100-kernel weight of 80.48 g, average shelling percentage of 71.57%, and average sucrose content of 6.09 g/100 g. The average pod yield and kernel yield were 4578.45 and 3283.15 kg/hm², respectively. Overall, ‘Linhua 16’ combines desirable sweetness for fresh consumption, strong potential for high and stable yield, and broad regional adaptability, making it suitable for cultivation in low-altitude temperate regions such as the North China Plain and the Liaodong Peninsula. This study further highlights the importance of exploring and collecting high-quality parental germplasm resources. The mutant population obtained in this study also provides new germplasm and a research foundation for future targeted peanut breeding and genetic improvement.

Key words: ‘Linhua 16’, fresh-eating peanut, sucrose content, irradiation-induced mutagenesis, variety breeding, regional trials, adaptability evaluation