Effect of Four Phenolic Compounds on Yield, Yield Characteristics and Oil Production of Two Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Cultivars¹

In the recent years phenolics have gained importance as PGR(s) [plant growth regulators]. To study their effect on pod development in peanut, four phenolic compounds (H-acid, 1,2,4-acid, resorcinol, and RD-Brown) were used in a field experiment with two foliar spray applications of 100 and 200 ug/mL at 35 and 50 days after planting. A randomized block design was used separately for two cultivars (C-501 and M-37 with three replications for each treatment. All treatments resulted in increased oil content and yield (kg/ha) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). H -acid at 100 ug/mL was the most effective treatment for enhancing number of pods per plant, shelling percentage, yield (kg/ha) and oil percentage in C-501. While H-acid at 100 ug/mL gave the highest increase in number of pods/plant and oil percentage, resorcinol induced the highest yield per hectare and total oil content in M-37. The effect of phenolic compounds on these peanut parameters was independent of their structural configuration.