Domestizierung einer tropischen leguminose am beispiel von Arachis pintoi

Arachis pintoi, a wild, perennial relative of the peanut, is, as yet, little known. It was first collected in 1954 by the Brazilian botanist G.C.P. Pinto who recognized its agronomic potential. Based on extended network testing throughout tropical America, initiated by the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) in 1978, the species was identified as very promising for pasture improvement in subhumid and humid climates. In association with competitive grasses such as Brachiaria species and under heavy grazing, A. pintoi has been a persistent, high-quality legume. It adapts to acid, low-fertility soils and grows well from sea level to as high as 1,800 masl. It provides a dense, shade-tolerant soil cover which prevents erosion on steep slopes and under crops such as coffee, citrus, and oil palm. Recent collection efforts increased the available germplasm base to almost l00 accessions.