Evaluation of Improved Valencia Peanut Varieties for Production in Haiti

Late leaf spot (Cercosporidium personatum) and peanut rust (Puccinia arachidis) are the most important diseases of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Haiti. Traditional Haitian peanut varieties are not only susceptible to these diseases but are also typically grown without benefit of a fungicide program. Five trials were conducted from 2015 to 2017 to evaluate the performance of six Valencia varieties in Quartier-Morin, Haiti (with an additional trial in 2017 at the Central Plateau) with respect to yield, resistance to rust and leaf spot diseases, and response to a fungicide program. A split-plot design with four or six replications was used in these studies. In each, “variety” was the whole plot and presence or absence of a fungicide program was the subplot. Valencia market types 309 Red, 309 Tan, M2, M3, SGV0801 and a local landrace were compared with and without Muscle ADV (tebuconazole + chlorothalonil, Sipcam) (2.3 L/ha) applied at 45, 60 and 75 days after planting (DAP). Final disease ratings (late leaf spot and peanut rust) were assessed approximately 94 DAP and plots were harvested the day following. In all trials, 309 Tan variety had the least amount of leaf spot and rust, but resulted in the lowest yield in four out of five trials, averaging 1727 kg/ha across fungicide treatments. M3, M2 and 309 Red were generally the numerically highest-yielding varieties, averaging 2906, 2864 and 2541 kg/ha across fungicide treatments, respectively, but were not statistically higher than the local Haitian Valencia, averaging 2374 kg/ha. Three fungicide applications during the season significantly increased yields in most trials for all varieties except 309 Tan. The highest and lowest average increase in yield from fungicide was for 309 Red (1126 kg/ha) and 309 Tan (103 kg/ha), respectively. The results from this study conducted over 2 years and 4 seasons document that while resistance to late leaf spot and rust is available in Valencia varieties, yield potential is not directly associated with that resistance. Also, use of fungicide improves yield potential in more susceptible varieties.