Fakultas Biologi UGM Kembangkan Kacang Tanah Unggul
Fakultas Biologi UGM Kembangkan Kacang Tanah Unggul
Faculty of Biology UGM has developed new varieties of groundnut that have more seeds, bigger size, and higher productivity.
Researchers team chairman, Dr. Budi S. Daryono, said the new variety had different characteristics from existing groundnut. The new variety has a minimum of three seeds and a maximum of five. The seeds and pods are also bigger.
“Plant productivity is also high, around 25 pods per plant,” said the Dean of Faculty of Biology on Thursday (18/1).
Budi said the variety was developed in the polyploidisation technique or plant chromosomes multiplication. The produced plant has phenotype characters which are bigger than the original plants in terms of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds.
The variety developed in the Genetics and Silviculture Lab of Faculty of Biology UGM has unique characteristics, too. The skin of the seed has brownish purple stripes.
Due to these characteristics and minimal research in this type of peanut, Budi said he would submit a new scientific name particularly in the variety level to become peanut (Arachis hypogaea var. Lurikensis). His team will explore further on such type.
“It’s possible in the future, Faculty of Biology UGM will contribute to the naming of new scientific variety level to be peanut (Arachis hypogaea var. Lurikensis)," Budi said.