pnut pnut Peanut Science 0095-3679 0095-3679 American Peanut Research and Education Society 10.3146/pnut.31.1.0011 Articles An Allotetraploid Model for the Inheritance of Wine Testa Color in Peanut1 R. N. Pittman 2, *, J. S. Kirby 3, and D. J. Banks 4 USDA-ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit, 1109 Experiment St., Griffin, GA 30223 Prof. (Retired), Agronomy Dept., Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74078 Res. Geneticist (Retired), USDA-ARS, Plant Science Res. Lab., 1301 N. Western, Stillwater, OK 74075

1 All programs and services of the U.S. Dept. of Agric. are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap.

 *Corresponding author (email: rpittman@ars-grin.gov). 1 2004 31 1 51 54 American Peanut Research and Education Society 2004 American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstract

Wine-colored peanut seeds originate as mutants and appear later as segregates in farmer's fields. Off-color seeds are unwanted by shellers and manufacturers. The inheritance of wine testa is complex and among the least understood of the basic testa colors. The objective of this study was to determine the inheritance of wine testa color. True breeding genotypes for tan and wine testa color were crossed and progenies analyzed for testa color. A new genetic model is presented to explain the inheritance of the wine-colored seed trait. A tetragenic model, based on a 207:49 (tan to wine) F2 segregation pattern, best described the data and assumes two sets of paired genes representing two genomes. At least one pair of homozygous recessive alleles in each set is necessary for expression of the wine-colored trait. Using parents in peanut breeding programs that are homozygous dominant at all four loci will help reduce the rate at which wine-colored seeds appear in farmer's fields.

 Key Words Arachis hypogaea; , seed color