New Genomic Discovery from ICRISAT Could Save Farmers Millions by Preventing Groundnut Sprouting Before
ICRISAT December 2 2025
Unpredictable rains pose a serious threat to groundnut farmers, with pre-harvest sprouting causing significant losses. Spanish groundnut varieties, representing nearly 60% of global production, are particularly vulnerable. Premature germination triggered by early rains can reduce yields by 10–20%, and up to 50% in severe cases. This makes understanding the genetics behind varieties that resist sprouting under high-moisture conditions especially critical.
In this study, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and its partners show how breeders can develop groundnut varieties with fresh seed dormancy—a natural “built-in wait time” that prevents pre-harvest sprouting and protects both yield and quality. This trait offers a powerful safeguard against the severe financial losses farmers face when early rains trigger sprouting.
Ideally, groundnut crops mature in 90–120 days after sowing, and farmers rely on a short dry window to harvest and dry the pods. This final stage is highly vulnerable; even a brief spell of rain during maturity or drying can trigger pre-harvest sprouting, resulting in significant yield, quality, and income losses.
By evaluating 184 groundnut genotypes from the ICRISAT Genebank over two seasons, the study revealed a wide range of natural variation, with some varieties remaining dormant for over 30 days without sprouting, while others sprouted within a week.
The team selected the varieties with 10–21 days of dormancy, an ideal window to balance sprouting protection with timely planting.
The team further screened the genetic make-up of these select varieties and identified 9 high-confidence candidate genes associated with fresh seed dormancy and pre-harvest sprouting resistance, providing valuable insights for breeding improved varieties.
ICRISAT's recent strides in understanding the genomics behind heat tolerance, disease resistance and blanchability in groundnut are shaping breeding strategies both within the Institute and across the wider research community. The Institute’s groundnut breeding program continues to screen its global germplasm collection for priority traits and to incorporate gene-level insights into ongoing breeding efforts, ensuring the development of future-ready varieties.
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