Breakthru Discovery Offers Hope Against Groundnut Disease

ICRISAT scientists working on a groundnut field (1)

A major scientific breakthrough from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) could help groundnut farmers worldwide avert billions in crop losses from stem rot, a disease that slashes yield by up to 80%.

In a study published in the Plant Genome journal, ICRISAT and partners mapped 13 genomic regions and 145 candidate genes linked to stem rot resistance.

This discovery creates new opportunities to breed disease-resistant groundnut varieties, significantly lowering risks for farmers and strengthening food and nutrition security globally.

Groundnut is both an oilseed and a protein-rich legume, cultivated on more than 30 million hectares worldwide, with an annual global production of 50 million metric tons.

The crop is central to diets, incomes, and trade in Asia and Africa, especially in countries like India, Nigeria, and China, which together account for the bulk of global supply.

Stem rot disease, caused by the soil-borne fungus Sclerotium rolfsii, is one of the biggest threats to groundnut farmers.

Speaking on the study, Director General of ICRISAT Dr Himanshu Pathak said, this breakthrough has the potential to save farmers and national economies hundreds of millions of dollars each year by reducing yield losses from stem rot.

"This advance demonstrates the high return on investment that agricultural research brings to national economies, converting scientific discovery into practical solutions that safeguard farmers against one of the most destructive groundnut diseases,” said Dr. Pathak.

Turning Research into Returns for Farmers and Economies

• Economic Benefits: By reducing the need for costly fungicides and preventing catastrophic yield losses, resistant varieties could save farmers and economies millions of dollars each year.

• Sustainability: Fungicides provide only partial control and are environmentally unsustainable. Genomics-led breeding offers a durable, cost-effective solution.

• Farmer Livelihoods: Improved varieties mean higher and more stable yields, translating into better incomes and food security for millions of smallholder families.

“This study bridges the gap between gene discovery and practical resistance breeding.

"It was made possible by ICRISAT’s unique resources, from its vast Genebank to its genomics platforms and disease screening fields,” said Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research & Innovation, ICRISAT.

The Science Behind the Breakthrough:

• 13 genomic regions identified across eight chromosomes linked to resistance.

• 145 candidate genes found, many involved in detoxification, protective compound synthesis, and plant recovery.

• Three key genes (AhSR001, AhSR002, AhSR003) were validated as markers, explaining nearly 60% of resistance.

“With these markers, we can fast-track resistant groundnut varieties that save farmers money and build resilience against disease and climate shocks,” said Dr Manish Pandey, Principal Scientist at ICRISAT.