Arachis hypogaea: Cultivation, Production and Nutritional Value

Arachis hypogaea L., commonly known as the groundnut or peanut, is a versatile legume that is grown primarily for its edible seeds and is consumed worldwide. Groundnut requires a warm growing season with well distributed rainfall, and India and China are responsible for providing just over half of the world's supply. However, in most African countries, groundnut is grown on marginal soil under low input and requires the attention of researchers and policy makers. Accordingly, the first two chapters of this monograph detail the cultivation, breeding, and nutritional value of groundnut. Chapter 3 deals with the management of peanut diseases, focusing specifically on the use of azoxystrobin plus benzovindiflupyr as a fungicide for treatment of early leaf spot, peanut pod rot, and other issues. Chapter 4 details how stored peanuts can be protected from fungi and aflatoxins contamination using free and microencapsulated 2(3)-tert-butyl-4 hydroxyanisole (BHA).