Botanical Name Of Groundnut

May 26, 2023, 16:45 IST

If you are looking for the Botanical Name of Groundnut, you have come to the right place!

The topic “Botanical Names of Groundnut” will be covered in this article. Groundnut's scientific name is Arachis hypogaea L. Groundnuts' flavor and nutritional makeup are comparable to those of tree nuts like almonds and walnuts. The peanut is a legume crop, which means it is a member of the Fabaceae family and is primarily grown for food or used as feed by livestock. The plant is extensively cultivated in the tropics and subtropics, with an estimated 44 million tonnes of production each year (2016).

This article will discuss Groundnut's history, botany, importance, cultivation, origin, benefits, disadvantages, and botanical description.

Introduction

Groundnut's scientific name is Arachis hypogaea L. It is thought to have come from the South American country of Brazil. It is categorized as an oil crop and a grain of legume.

The flowering plant genus Arachis contains 70 additional species and includes Arachis hypogaea, often known as the peanut, groundnut, and goober.

Also, check - Anatomy

The peanut is a legume crop, which means it is a member of the Fabaceae family and is primarily grown for food or used as feed by livestock. The plant is extensively cultivated in the tropics and subtropics, with an estimated 44 million tonnes of production each year (2016).

Botanical Description of Groundnut

The peanut is an annual plant with slow growth. The prone upright stems of the groundnut plant can occasionally reach a height of 46 cm. Up to 40 days after planting, the plant typically grows slowly. Approximately 25 to 40 days after planting, plants begin to bloom. In the first 40 to 100 days, growth is more rapid. The amount of peanut foliage increases by 4-5 times at this time.

Depending on the seeding depth and soil moisture, seedlings will emerge 5 to 10 days after planting. The bunch type lacks seed dormancy. However, depending on temperature and storage conditions, spreading-type seeds might go dormant for anywhere between one and six months following harvest. Heat therapy or ethylene treatment, however, can end dormancy.

Also, check - Asthma

Root

The groundnut has a tap root that extends 30-35 cm in all directions and has laterals that cover a depth of 35–40 cm.

Stem

The cylindrical, hairy, and somewhat angular groundnut stem ages with time. The core stem, typically taller and containing a few laterals, serves as the primary basis for categorizing various types and shapes.

Leaves

The pinnately compound leaf of the groundnut has two pairs of leaflets. Approximately one-half of a couple of 4 cm long stipules with long alternating tips that are united with the petiole. At each node, there is one leaf that alternates. The leaflets might be elliptic, ovate, or oblong, with entire or ciliate edges, a subcordate base, and an obtuse or short mucronate tip.

Flowers

Depending on temperature and moisture availability, groundnut can blossom (become orange-yellow) over an extended period. Flowering happens 24 to 30 days after sowing and starts a little sooner in bunches than in spreading kinds. For bunch-type plants, the flowering period typically lasts 3–8 weeks, whereas, for spreading-type plants, it lasts 6–10 weeks. Three to five flowers are produced on reproductive branches in the leaf axils close to the plant's base.

The ovule in groundnuts is fertilized by its pollen, making it an entirely self-pollinated crop. It is an unusual plant because, after pollination, the ovary elongates to form a peg (gynophore), which buries the ovaries into the soil and has fertilized ovules at the tip.

Seed

The fruit is an indehiscent pod with one to five seeds inside it. Morphologically speaking, the testa is the thin layer of skin that covers the seed or nut, while the pericarp is the pod's shell that houses the seed. The nut consists of two cotyledons that are filled with oil and other food ingredients.

Importance of Groundnut

• The thirteenth-most significant food crop in the world is groundnuts. They are the third-largest producer of plant proteins and the fourth-largest producer of edible oil worldwide (ICRISAT). They include significant amounts of easily digestible protein, edible oil, and carbohydrates.
• Resveratrol, a chemical compound having anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and lifespan-extension characteristics, is present in significant amounts in peanuts.
• Many different industries use groundnuts. Paint, lacquer, lubrication oil, leather treatments, furniture polish, insecticides, and nitroglycerin are all made from peanut oil.
• Peanut oil and its derivatives are included in many items, and oil that has been saponified is used to make soap. The protein in the oil is used to make a variety of textile fibers.

Origin of Groundnut

A legume that may have its roots and native range in South America is Arachis hypogaea (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, and Bolivia). The Paraguay River's headwaters in the Mato Grosso region are thought to be where the genus first appeared. Different types of Arachis were created due to their geographic expansion and genetic mutation.

The native A. hypogaea that have been domesticated came from southern Bolivia and northwest Argentina on the foothills of the Andes mountain range. From its modest beginnings, it was able to spread across continents and is today able to be grown in tropical and warm climates worldwide for its seeds and oil.

Cultivation of Groundnut

Light, sandy loam soil with a pH of 5.9–7 is ideal for growing peanuts. Because of their ability to fix nitrogen, peanuts receive little to no benefit from nitrogen-containing fertilizers and increase soil fertility when modulation is done effectively. They are helpful in crop rotations as a result.

Furthermore, processing results in a decrease in illnesses, pests, and weeds, which increases the production of the peanut crop itself. For instance, in Texas, peanuts rotated with maize for three years produce 50% more than peanuts that aren't rotated.

For good yields, it's essential to have adequate quantities of micronutrients, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. For the duration of their growing season, peanuts require warm temperatures.

Advantages of Groundnut

Nutrition

Protein, good fats, and dietary fiber are plentiful supply in groundnuts. Due to their high potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin B content, groundnuts can provide many health benefits. Groundnuts are a fantastic source of fiber, protein, and heart-healthy fats and help control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Groundnuts in Ayurveda

Around the 14th century, peanuts, known in ancient Ayurveda as Kalaya, were mentioned for their capacity to balance, alleviate, and treat illnesses brought on by the kapha and pitta doshas. Traditional medicine practitioners suggest peanuts for treating various ailments, including memory loss, diabetes, weight reduction, and problems with the skin and hair.

Controls Diabetes

For people with diabetes, groundnuts are the perfect snack because they help to reduce blood sugar levels. Grab a handful of roasted peanuts to quell your hunger and avoid a sharp rise in your blood sugar levels. According to studies, peanuts contain 21% of the mineral manganese for every 100 grams, essential for calcium absorption and blood sugar control.

Prevents Cancer

Beta-sitosterol, which helps to prevent cancers in the body, is abundant in peanuts. It prevents tumor growth, particularly in cases of cervical and breast cancer. According to studies, eating peanuts at least three times a week in any form—boiled, soaked, or fried—decreases cancer risk by 58% in both sexes.

Stops Hair Loss

These small miracle nuts are an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system and prevent hair loss. Regular peanut consumption increases the production of collagen, strengthens hair follicles, lessens baldness, and encourages hair growth.

Helps Loose Weight

Peanuts are a good source of fiber, protein, and fat that can help to enhance intestinal health and keep you full for longer. These nuts boost metabolic activity, give you immediate energy and stop you from overeating. Dislike roasted or raw peanuts? Grab a jaggery-made groundnut chikki bar to satisfy your midday appetite.

Skin Glow

Regular peanut eating gives the skin a radiant radiance. These beans contain resveratrol, a beneficial monounsaturated lipid that reduces excessive sebum production and acne and pimple outbreaks. Vitamin E and vitamin C help to prevent wrinkles, fine lines, and other aging-related symptoms.

Disadvantages of Groundnut

If you eat peanuts, you ought to be aware of their drawbacks as well. Let's discuss some negative effects of consuming more peanuts that you might not be aware of

• Increases Weight: The high-calorie content of peanuts can contribute to weight gain. If you want to control your weight, you should avoid calories. Consuming peanuts could be harmful to people who are attempting to lose weight.
• Allergic Side Effects: The most prevalent allergies and several dangerous reactions are caused by peanuts. Even in very little amounts, peanut consumption might cause surprising reactions. Your immune system recognizes the protein in peanuts as potentially dangerous and symptom-causing, which causes this to occur. A peanut allergy may result in a runny nose, hives, itching, swelling or redness, tingling in the tongue and throat, and gastrointestinal problems.
• Increased Sodium Intake: Peanuts come in various varieties, and salt can raise or lower blood pressure. We must be aware of the sodium content to keep blood pressure and heart health in check.
• Inhibits Blood Clotting: Resveratrol, which prevents blood clotting, is found in peanuts. Blood coagulation is a procedure that mostly stops excessive bleeding when blood arteries are damaged. This peanut component may cause irregular menstruation cycles, repeated nosebleeds, and easy bruising.
• Unbalanced Diet: In general, peanuts contain a lot of nutrients. Even though these nutrients are abundant, peanuts are imbalanced, which is a drawback. For example, peanuts are extremely low in vitamin C but high in vitamin E. Healthy diets usually contain foods that, even when eaten alone, can provide a balanced diet. However, if you consume foods like peanuts, you must take supplements with additional essential nutrients.

Botanical Name of Groundnut : FAQs

Q1. What environment is suitable for growing groundnuts?

Ans.For growth, it needs a long, warm climate. Complete response: Groundnut cultivation can thrive in a rather warm environment. During the growing season, it requires an average temperature of 30°C-35°C. Its growth is also greatly aided by a lot of sunlight.

Q2. What are the major applications for groundnuts?

Ans.Raw (non-heated), boiled, and roasted groundnut seeds can be eaten. They can also be used to make confections and baked goods using their flour. The groundnut shells can be used to create particle boards, as fuel, or as a filler in the feed and fertilizer industries. Haulms made of groundnuts are a wholesome source of feed for animals.

Q3. How much water do groundnuts need?

Ans.Groundnut is regarded as a day-neutral plant, and that daylength is not a significant determinant of production. A rainfed crop needs between 500 and 700 mm of dependable rainfall throughout the entire growing season for optimal yields. It is best suited for the crop.

Q4. Do peanuts require fertilizer?

Ans.As long as phosphorus, calcium, and sulfur-containing fertilizers like 23:21:0+4S were administered, groundnuts often perform well after a well-fertilized maize crop. To promote strong plant establishment and large yields, farmers should use one superphosphate at a rate of 100 kg/ha either before or during planting.

Q5. Where in India are groundnuts primarily grown?

Ans.Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Gujarat are the top producers of groundnuts in the nation. Both the Kharif and Rabi seasons are used to raise the crop.