A team of international scientists, including researchers from University of Georgia and U.S. Department of Agriculture have successfully mapped peanut's genetic code. The findings of the five-year study provide relevant data to help other scientists around the world decode some of the genetic potential of the peanut plant.

"Mapping the genetic code of the peanut proved to be an especially difficult task, but the final product is one of the best ever generated," said Steve Brown, executive director of The Peanut Foundation (IPF). "We now have a map that will help breeders incorporate desirable traits that benefit growers, processors, and most importantly, the consumers that enjoy delicious and nutritious peanut products all over the world."

The Peanut Genome Consortium includes scientists from the U.S., China, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, India, Israel, and several countries in Africa. The findings will enable scientists to search for beneficial genes in cultivated and wild peanut varieties that can be harnessed to develop new peanut varieties. Traits can be improved to achieve greater yields, lower production costs, lower losses to disease, better flavor, improved processing traits, nutrition, and safety, as well as virtually anything that is genetically determined by the peanut plant.

Read the original article from Southeast Farm Press and the full report from The Peanut Foundation website.