Relación fuente-destino en cultivares de maní tipo runner (Arachis hypogaea L.) sembrados en Argentina

Assimilate partitioning into reproductive structures is a relevant physiological feature in increasing peanut yield, and its analysis through the source-sink relationship is an important contribution to genetic improvement and crop management. The objective was to analyze the source-sink relationship of runner-type cultivars grown in Argentina. Two field experiments were performed, Exp1 consisted in the analysis of the cultivar Granoleico in three sowing dates during 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. In Exp2, six runner-type cultivars (Florunner, Florman, Manigran, Asem-485, Pepe-Asem and Granoleico) were sown during 2011-2012. The source-sink relationship was analyzed using two methodologies: total biomass assigned to each pod during pod filling period (g pod-1) in relation to its final weight, and analysis of the trade-off between pod number and pod weight at harvest. The lack of trade-off between pod number and weight showed that the peanut plant has conditions to fill a wide number of pods (20-57 pods plant-1) in the same way. Also, the average pod weight (1.05 g) was lower than the total plant biomass assigned to that pod during its formation (2.63 g). A marked limitation by sinks was determined, indicating the possibility of to increase the peanut yield by means of improvements in sinks size.