Genetic variability for total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of testaless seeds of a peanut recombinant inbred line population and identification of their controlling QTLs

Peanut, an important oil producing crop contains bioactive compounds like phenolics and flavonoids which determine its antioxidative activity. We report here the genetic variability for total phenolics, flavonoids and DPPH radical scavenging activity of testaless seeds of a peanut recombinant inbred line population. On an average, the population contained 1.65 mg GAE/g and 240 A mu g CE/g of phenolics and flavonoids, respectively in its seed. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of this population ranged from 1.27 to 4.40 mM of TEAC/g of seed with an average of 2.87 mM of TEAC/g and had significant positive correlation with both phenolics and flavonoids content. Genetic mapping and QTL analysis revealed five QTLs for total flavonoid content, four QTLs for DPPH radical scavenging activity and a single QTL for total phenolic content in six linkage groups. Of these 10 QTLs, six were positioned in linkage group A02 and A03 wherein rust and late leaf spot resistance genes were located.