Identification of new sources of resistance against late leaf spot disease of groundnut using molecular and field screenings

Late leaf spot (LLS), caused by the fungus Nothopassalora personata, is an important foliar disease in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production. The present study used previously reported three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to screen a set of groundnut germplasm and compared them with phenotypic values of three hotspot locations. The results indicated that marker-identified genotypes had LLS-resistant or moderately resistant phenotypes. About 56% of the phenotypically confirmed genotypes were confirmed with the SNP genotype. Some of the phenotypically resistant genotypes were not confirmed with marker genotypes, indicating some other quantitative trait locus (QTL) responsible for the LLS resistance might have been involved. The findings in this study are relevant to future LLS resistance breeding programs.