Peanut genome resource: a functional genomics platform for Arachis hypogaea

Peanut is a vital oilseed legume with considerable nutritional and economic value worldwide. Considering the global agricultural importance of this legume, researchers have sequenced the whole genomes of both wild and cultivated peanut varieties. Furthermore, databases such as PeanutBase have been established to advance peanut research and breeding. These databases compile extensive genomic resources, including reference genomes, gene annotations, and molecular markers. However, very few genes in cultivated peanut have been functionally characterized. To address this research gap, we developed an enhanced version of the Peanut Genome Resource (PGR) platform (https://pgr.itps.ncku.edu.tw), specifically focusing on providing comprehensive genomic, annotation, and phenotypic data for Arachis hypogaea, especially the Chinese peanut var. Shitouqi. This updated platform integrates an extensive range of genomic annotations-such as information on gene functions, protein domains, transcription factor (TF) families, gene ontology terms, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Furthermore, PGR offers gene expression profiles across tissues and conditions as well as tools for differential gene expression and coexpression analyses. To the best of our knowledge, PGR is the first peanut-related platform to incorporate advanced bioinformatics tools for cis-regulatory element analyses, such as those aimed at predicting TF-binding sites; identifying CpNpG islands, tandem repeats, and single sequence repeats; and performing in silico polymerase chain reaction assays for genetic markers. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive analytical capabilities, PGR serves as a powerful platform for advancing research on peanut genetics, breeding, and functional genomics.