Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction: biosystematics of the legumes
- 2 The role of grain legumes in the human economy
- 3 The groundnut, Arachis hypogaea L.
- 4 The New World pulses: Phaseolus species
- 5 The Old World pulses: Vigna species
- 6 Pulses of the classical world
- 7 The other legume oilseeds
- 8 The pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)
- 9 Minor grain legumes
- 10 Germplasm resources and the future
- References
- Postscript
- Supplementary references
- Author index
- General index
3 - The groundnut, Arachis hypogaea L.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction: biosystematics of the legumes
- 2 The role of grain legumes in the human economy
- 3 The groundnut, Arachis hypogaea L.
- 4 The New World pulses: Phaseolus species
- 5 The Old World pulses: Vigna species
- 6 Pulses of the classical world
- 7 The other legume oilseeds
- 8 The pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)
- 9 Minor grain legumes
- 10 Germplasm resources and the future
- References
- Postscript
- Supplementary references
- Author index
- General index
Summary
The major stimulus to detailed studies of the biosystematics of the genus Arachis, to which the groundnut belongs, came directly from practical interest in the crop. This work, initiated in the United States and Argentina, is associated with the names of Gregory, Krapovickas and their co-workers. Although it has not yet reached a definitive stage, sufficient has been published to provide a sound and effective biosystematic framework within which to consider the origin, evolution and germplasm resources of the crop. Indeed, few legumes have been more effectively investigated by what is a surprisingly small number of individual workers. Data and observations from a variety of sources have been integrated to produce a workable taxonomic scheme for the groundnut and its relatives. Morphological evidence is of course paramount, but this has been very effectively supplemented by studies of experimental hybridisation, comparative cytology, cytogenetics and biochemistry. Arguably this has been more effective for the groundnut and its allies than for any other grain legume; as a result, a very satisfactory taxonomic synthesis is emerging.
Biosystematics of Arachis
The present state of Arachis taxonomy
The genus Arachis is morphologically well defined and clearly delimited from its closest relatives by the development of a peg and its geocarpy.
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- Information
- Grain LegumesEvolution and Genetic Resources, pp. 30 - 84Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1990
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