Effect of Leaf Damage Ratios on Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Production and Quality

This study was carried out to determine the effects of leaf damage rates at different growth stages of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars under Eastern Mediterranean conditions of Turkey (Osmaniye Province). The study was conducted in completely randomized design in split-split-plots with three replications, in 2020 and 2021. Cultivars NC 7 and Halisbey were in the main plots, growth stages (R1, R2 and R3) in sub-plots, and leaf damages (control, 25, 50, and 75%) in the sub-sub-plots. Yield and various quality parameters were measured and recorded. The highest value of the number of pods per plant was obtained from the Halisbey (24.5±0.4) cultivar, the R2 period (23.5±0.6), and the control (25.7±0.6) treatment. The number of pods per plant decreased when the leaf damage increased. The highest pod yield was obtained from NC 7 cultivar (2302±8.2 kg ha-1) and R1 period (2041±9.1 kg ha-1). The order of leaf damage treatments in terms of yield was as the control (2536±8.8 kg ha-1), 25% LD treatment (2011±8.0 kg ha-1), 50% LD treatment (1906±11.9 kg ha-1), and 75% LD (1481±7.6 kg ha-1). Thus, it was determined that the selection of cultivars and integrated control against diseases and pests are important in order to reduce the effect of leaf damage on the quality and yield of peanuts in Osmaniye conditions.