John
P. Beasley, Jr.Professor & Extension Peanut Agronomist
The University of Georgia/College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Cooperative Extension Service
John
P. Beasley, Jr.
Professor & Extension Peanut Agronomist
Georgia Bold is a new, large-seeded, runner-type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) variety that was released in 1997 by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations. It was developed by Dr. William D. Branch at the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station at Tifton, Georgia.
Georgia Bold is intended for the same runner-type market as Florunner, which has been so widely accepted by the peanut industry for the past two decades. However, Georgia Bold has superior yield and grade combination, which results in greater dollar value return per acre.
Georgia Bold was developed from a backcross of Sunbelt Runner to (Southern Runner X Sunbelt Runner). Geor-gia Bold is unique from other runner-type peanut varieties in having a combination of larger seed, distinctively dark green foliage, spreading runner growth habit and medium maturity range (140-150 DAP). Georgia Bold has a moderate level of resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), similar to GK-7 and the virginia market-type variety NC-V 11.
Georgia Bold is highly productive and has shown excellent performance across several years and many different tests. In 18 tests conducted at multiple locations under both irrigated and dry-land conditions in Georgia from 1995 through 1997, Georgia Bold was found to be significantly higher in yield and dollar value compared to GK-7 (see Table 1). It also resulted in a significantly greater grade percentage of total sound mature kernels (TSMK) than GK-7.
| Table 1. Three-Year (18-Test) Average Field Performance of Georgia Green, Georgia Bold and GK-7 over Multilocations in Georgia, 1995-1997. | |||
| Runner Variety | Yield (lbs/A) | TSMK (%) | Value ($/A) |
| Georgia Green | 4564 a | 76 a | 1559 a |
| Georgia Bold | 4412 a | 76 a | 1520 a |
| GK-7 | 3760 b | 74 b | 1265 b |
| Means within the same column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at P 0.05. | |||
Table 2 compares Georgia Bold to Florunner, which was the industry standard for many years. Georgia Bold was also found to be significantly higher in yield, grade and dollar value with larger seed size for both seed weight and percentage of extra large kernels (ELK) than Florunner. Georgia Bold is similar to Florunner in maturity, blanchability, oil content and flavor but has slightly higher protein content and oleic to linoleic fatty acid ratio for improved nutrition and shelf-life.
| Table 2. Five-Year (30-Test) Average Performance of Georgia Bold vs. Florunner over Multilocations in the Southeast, 1992-1996. | |||||
| Peanut Variety | Yield (lbs/A) | TSMK (%) | ELK (%) | Seed (No./lb) | Value ($/A) |
| Georgia Bold | 4114 a | 77 a | 30 a | 709 b | 1451 a |
| Florunner | 3504 b | 75 b | 15 b | 782 a | 1205 b |
| Means within the same column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at P 0.05. | |||||
For best results, growers should follow a good grass crop rotation (preferably three years or more). Use only certified seed at approximately four to six seed per foot of row to ensure genetic purity, increased germination and good plant stands.
Place special emphasis on adequate moisture and available calcium in the fruiting zone during the growing season. Encourage growers to follow all recommended production practices to control diseases and insects. Use of the hull-scrape method for determining maturity is also encouraged to maximize yield, grade and dollar values.
The Georgia Peanut Breeding Program is supported by the University of Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations with grant funds from The Georgia Peanut Commission, Georgia Seed Development Commission, and The University of Georgia Research Foundation.
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