Research Progress on High-Protein Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Varieties in China

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) protein, as a precursor to various amino acids and bioactive peptides, determines the flavor and nutritional quality of peanut products. Therefore, high protein content is one of the target traits in advanced peanut breeding programs. In this review, we summarized the characteristics of all currently available high-protein peanut varieties in China and provided a comprehensive analysis of the genetic, physical characteristics, and disease resistance. These varieties mostly were developed through interspecific hybridization or selected from mutants of self-pollinated parents, primarily using the cultivars "Silihong" and "Baisha 1016" as main parental lines. In terms of disease resistance, although most high-protein peanut varieties can resist two to four types of disease, few varieties exhibit resistance to multiple diseases, and some varieties show no resistance for tested disease or lack sufficient experimental validation. The genetic basis of high-protein peanuts is relatively narrow, relying mainly on a small number of parental varieties. The findings of this review provide important references for high-protein peanut breeding, highlighting the existing problems and challenges in current breeding efforts and emphasizing the importance of broadening the genetic base, enhancing disease resistance breeding, and optimizing overall quality. This review offers theoretical and practical guidance for future breeding of high-quality, high-yield, and high-protein peanut varieties, contributing to the sustainable development and quality improvement of the peanut industry.