They will be entered in replicated yield trials in comparison with commercial varieties at Suffolk and two off-station sites. Major emphasis will be placed on pod characteristics as well as yield and pest resistance when determining if testing beyond 1999 is merited. The selection process also involves other desirable characteristics. The proper distribution of jumbo and fancy pod sizes within each potential new variety is very important as is ELK percentage. Total kernel content, SMK, and milling quality are all important to the grower as well as the sheller.
Pest resistance is very important as growers try to cut pesticide usage.
Some advanced breeding lines appear to be less susceptible to southern corn rootworm and sclerotinia blight than some of our current varieties, although certainly not totally resistant. However, if they give higher dollar return per acre without pesticide use than our current varieties, we can acknowledge some benefit by their release as a new variety. The Virginia Peanut Breeding Program continues to cooperate with the North Carolina program in work to introduce the high oleic gene for longer shelf life into some of the Virginia lines. Cooperative work in selection for pest resistance will also be expanded in 1999 to include test in areas with heavy infestation of CBR, sclerotinia blight and southern corn rootworm. It certainly should be acceptable by the grower for its high dollar return and it also has the desired pod characteristics for the in-shell trade.