pnut pnut Peanut Science 0095-3679 0095-3679 American Peanut Research and Education Society 10.3146/i0095-3679-3-1-7 Articles Comparative Field Performance of Plants Developing from Normal and Abnormal Seedlings of Peanuts1 G. A. Sullivan and A. Perry 2 Extension Assistant Professor and Extension Professor, Crop Science Department, North Carolina State University, P. O. Box 5155, Raleigh, N. C. 27607

1Paper No. 141 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina State University Agricultural Extension Service, Raleigh, N. C. 27607.

 1 1976 1 1976 3 1 29 31 31 5 1975 . American Peanut Research and Education Society 1976 American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstract

The percentage of abnormal peanut seedlings was determined in 18 field plantings during 1973–74. Characteristics of mature plants that developed from normal and abnormal seedlings were compared. Seedlings that emerged 7–10 days later than the field average were idenpngied as abnormal. Plants that developed from abnormal seedlings produced, on the average, less than one-half of the yield of plants that developed from normal seedlings. Pod yields of the plants that developed from abnormal seedlings varied from zero to normal. SMK percentages were significantly different at six of the 15 locations that were measured.

Approximately 95 percent of the plants that developed from abnormal seedlings had abnormal root systems. The most common abnormalities were twisted hypocotyls and/or missing taproots. Abnormal seedlings commonly result from seeds subjected to mechanical impacts during harvesting and processing.

 Additional key words Arachis hypogaea L; , root development; , radicle; , seed quality; , groundnut