The value of the radiation induced mutant Fushi in peanut cross breeding

In the sixties the peanut variety Shitouqi was treated with beta rays from 32P and a mutant called FUSHI was selected. Its seedlings are emerging fast, the plant has short internodes and small thick dark colour leaves. It is highly branched and bears tightly plump pods with thin shells. The yield is low, but the mutant has been used in cross breeding with marvellous success. The scheme shows the new peanut cultivars derived from FUSHI. 1. Yueyou 22 emerges quickly and grows rapidly. It is robust with large light green leaves, bears flowers and pods tightly. Pods are of medium to large size. Its yield was 7,3% over Shitouqi and the variety reached a cultivation area of 130.000 ha. 2. Yueyou 33 is a selection from Yueyou 22 and reached a cultivation of 20.000 ha. 3. By gamma irradiation of Yueyou 22 another mutant variety Fu 21 was developed. The plants of this cultivar are somewhat smaller, but it grows vigorously, has better resistance to bacterial wilt and less leave losses. The yield is higher and it was grown on 11.000 ha. 4. When Yueyou 22 was crossed with Yueyou 431 at the Economic Crops Research Institute Guangzhou, another cultivar Yueyou 551 evolved (MBNL No. 25, p.9). The plants are tall with small but thick leaves, light green and lustrous, late senescing. Yield was 20% over Shitouqi, it was grown on 200.000 ha and became the main variety in Guangdong province. 5. From selection and cross breeding with Yueyou 551 five more varieties were developed: Yueyou 551-6, Yueyou 551-38, Yueyou 551-116, Yuexuan 58 and Yangxuan 1. Of these, Yueyou 551-116 was the most successful, yielding 6-12% over Yueyou 551 and reaching a cultivation area of 130.000 ha. Yuexuan 58 yielded 8.5% over Yueyou 551. 6. By crossing the original Yueyou 551, two new varieties were produced Yueyou 187 and Yueyou 187-93. Their yield was 9-10% over Yueyou 551. 7. By crossing Yueyou 551-6 a new variety Yueyou 169 was developed, yielding 5% over the check Yueyou 551-116. 8. Variety Shanyou 27 evolved from a cross with Yuexuan 58. It grows luxuriously, has lots of branches, a good canopy, and has strong rust resistance. The yield is about 10% over Yueyou 551-116 and after reaching a cultivation area of more than 6.500 ha it seems to become one of the leading varieties in the province. The derivative varieties of FUSHI have so far been grown on ca. 3 Mill. ha, gave the farmers an additional crop value of 500 Million Yuan and received several governmental awards