Abstract
A total of 60 genotypes of peanut comprising 46 genotypes selected from ICRISAT mini core collection and 14 elite cultivars with differing kernel color and size were used to profile the nutritional parameters such as proximates (moisture, fat, ash, crude protein, crude fiber, carbohydrate content) and nutraceuticals (total polyphenol content and total antioxidant activity). The genotypes showed varied kernel color ranging from white to purple. Kernel skin color was quantified using colorimetry, and the color parameters were expressed as CIELAB color parameters. In total, nine morphological traits, six yield related traits, eight nutritional traits and eleven color parameters were observed across 60 genotypes. The sixty genotypes were grouped into ten clusters based on the color strength. Among them, Cluster-III with dark red seeds had the maximum fat content and total polyphenol content (TPC). Cluster-VI with light pink colored seeds had high antioxidant activity (AOA) and Cluster-X with white colored seeds had highest moisture and crude protein content. Color strength (K/S) was found to be positively correlated with TPC. Another color parameter, redness/greenness (a*) was found to be positively correlated with AOA. However, seed size was positively correlated with the crude protein content, but not with any other nutritional traits under study. The population studies based on the genotypic data indicated two distinct groups pertaining to botanical types of peanut. The marker-trait association (MTA) using single marker analysis indicated 75 major MTAs for most of the nutritional traits except for moisture content. The markers associated with nutritional parameters and other important yield related traits can further be utilized for genomics-assisted breeding for nutrient-rich peanuts.