A Note on the Development of an In-Tube Growth System to Study Pod-specific Responses of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea)

Abstract

As a geocarpic plant, the fruits of peanut are matured below ground. Developing pods share a similar nutritional and microbial environment as roots, albeit they have distinct physiology and responses to environmental stimuli. Separating pods and roots into different environments to study a pod-specific or a root specific response to stimuli is still technically challenging. Research was conducted to develop an easy and affordable system to support the growth of individual pods in a controlled environment that is separate from roots, named the In-Tube Growth (ITG) system. The data indicate that the growth of pods of various varieties in ITG is comparable to those in open soil. The ITG system was used to investigate the defects caused by calcium deficiency in the geocarposphere, demonstrating it as a useful system for studying pod development and their responses to biotic or abiotic stresses.