Effect of Harvest Time on Yield Components and Quality in ‘Heuksaeng’, the Purple-Skin Peanut Variety

This study was conducted to investigate the impact of harvest time on yield and seed quality in purple seed coat peanut. Compared to the average Virginia peanut variety, ‘Heuksaeng’, purple peanut variety has been reported to experience yield loss and reduced seed quality under delayed harvest. We examined the yield components and seed quality at different harvest times from 70 to 110 days after flowering (DAF), with harvesting occurring at intervals of 10 days. The number of mature pods per plant reached a maximum of 51.0 at 80 DAF, and average pod and seed yield peaked at 80 DAF with values of 5,229 and 3,532 kg per ha, respectively. Seed quality drastically decreased after 100 DAF, and the concentrations of two major anthocyanin compounds were significantly lower under delayed harvest. The antioxidative activities of DPPH and ABTS decreased to only 69 and 83% of their maximum values at 110 DAF. On the basis of these results, we recommend that ‘Heuksaeng’ is harvested approximately 10 to 15 days earlier that average Virginia-type cultivars to obtain the highest yield while minimizing the deterioration of seed quality.