Rhizoma Peanut: More Than a ‘Lucerne’ for Subtropical USA

Rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata) was introduced to Florida from South America in the 1930s. Selections \u27Arb\u27 (PI 118457) and \u27Arblick\u27 (PI 262839) were released in the 1960s, but their use was very limited due to slow establishment and low productivity. The University of Florida released \u27Florigraze\u27 (PI 421707) in 1978 and \u27Arbrook\u27 (PI 262817) in 1986. These cultivars produced much higher dry matter yields. Thereafter, rhizoma peanut began to gain commercial acceptance. These cultivars are used throughout the Gulf Coast region of the USA for commercial hay production, pasture, creep grazing, silage, balage, and living mulch (French et al., 1994). It is estimated that circa 8 Kha of rhizoma peanut have been planted (Quesenberry, 1999). \u27Ecoturf\u27 (PI 262840), an A. glabrata introduction that is gaining wide spread acceptance as a low maintenance turf or ornamental, is the latest development with rhizoma peanut breeding at the University of Florida. In 2002, perennial peanut was selected as the Plant of the Year by the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association. Current estimates are that rhizoma peanut sales (mainly hay, but also includes planting material and ornamental production) exceed $7M USD