Journal of Peanut Science

If not promptly dried after harvest, peanuts are highly susceptible to frost damage, which leading to negative effects on their quality. 29 high oleic acid and 2 conventional peanut varieties(lines) were used as material in this study. Peanut pods were harvested and sun-dried in the field, with moisture content measured to investigate the variations in pod dehydration rates among different varieties. The relationship between dehydration rates and meteorological factors as well as fruit traits of peanuts was analyzed. Results indicated that the dehydration rates varied among peanut varieties as ranging from 2.07%/d to 6.29%/d. Cluster analysis at a squared Euclidean distance of 7 divided the 31 varieties into four categories: extremely fast dehydration as 6.29%/d, fast dehydration as(4.31%-4.79%)/d, moderate dehydration as(3.41%-4.12%)/d, and slow dehydration as(2.07%-3.16%)/d. The dehydration rate of peanut pods was significantly correlated with most of the studied meteorological factors. Based on stepwise regression and path analysis, the daily minimum temperature, average humidity, and the daily minimum soil temperature were identified as the primary meteorological factors influencing the pod dehydration rate, exhibiting significant negative correlations. The pod dehydration rate showed a significant positive correlation with both 100-pod mass and 100-kernel mass. Research indicated that peanut varieties(lines) with good comprehensive fruit traits and rapid dehydration rate include 21NC20, Jihua136, Jihua2912 and 15H109.