This afternoon, Chinese scientists officially announced the first whole-genome sequencing of peanuts, a groundbreaking achievement that marks a major milestone in agricultural science. This breakthrough is expected to significantly reshape China's edible oil market and open up new possibilities for peanut cultivation and utilization.
The research focused on diploid wild peanuts and involved collaboration from scientists in China, India, and the United States. The findings revealed that 70% of the peanut genome consists of repeated sequences, challenging the previously accepted 50% standard set by the international scientific community. This discovery offers a solid foundation for boosting the oil content of peanuts, which could lead to substantial improvements in production efficiency.
According to Yan Shanlin, head scientist of the National Peanut Industry System, "If we can increase the oil content from the current 50% to over 60%, it would be a major breakthrough. This could allow us to produce more tofu or higher-quality oil from peanuts." Such advancements could revolutionize how peanuts are used in food and industry.
With this newly mapped "genetic blueprint," researchers will be able to identify and develop new peanut varieties that are high-yield, drought-resistant, and disease-tolerant. This will dramatically shorten the breeding cycle—from the current 5 to 6 years down to just 1 to 2 years.
In addition, as domestic edible oil consumption relies heavily on peanut and soybean oils, with most soybean oil coming from genetically modified imports, experts believe that molecular breeding of peanuts could soon lead to alternatives that reduce reliance on imported GM soybeans. Li Hongjie, Research Director at Shandong Shengfeng Seed Industry Technology Co., Ltd., stated, "Through advanced sequencing techniques, we can develop high-yield and high-oil peanut varieties, increasing China’s self-sufficiency in edible oil from the current 43% to around 50%. This will help reduce dependency on imported soybeans and promote a more sustainable agricultural future."
This innovation not only highlights China’s growing role in global agricultural research but also signals a shift toward more efficient and environmentally friendly crop development strategies.
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