Registration of ‘Tifguard’ Peanut

'Tifguard' (Reg. No. CV-101, PI 651853) is a runner-type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) cultivar released by the USDA-ARS and the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations in 2007. Tifguard was developed at the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, GA. Peanut cultivars are available that have high resistance to the peanut root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood race 1] or spotted wilt caused by tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV). However, no cultivars exist that have resistance to both pathogens. Our research objective was to combine resistance to both pathogens in a single cultivar. Breeding populations were developed by hybridizing the TSWV-resistant 'C-99R' with the nematode-resistant 'COAN'. Selection for nematode resistance was conducted using standard greenhouse screening techniques. Selection for TSWV resistance was conducted in the field with natural virus infection. A breeding line (C724-19-15) was selected that had high resistance to both pathogens. Tifguard exhibited higher resistance to TSWV and higher yield than standard check cultivars when grown in fields with little or no nematode pressure. Because of its high level of resistance to both TSWV and M. arenaria, Tifguard had significantly higher yield than all others entries when grown in two locations with high pressure from both pathogens. This cultivar should be valuable for peanut growers who have to deal with both pathogens.