2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): Application of marker assisted selection to improve the efficiencies of breeding peanut and warm season grasses. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): Segregating populations of peanut will be developed, grown, and analyzed for molecular markers. Data will be used to select genotypes with improved disease resistance and improved quality traits. Segregating populations of warm season grasses will be developed, grown, and analyzed for molecular markers. Data will be used to select improved genotypes for turf, bioenergy, and other uses. 3.Progress Report: The research from this SCA directly supports Objective 2: Develop peanut germplasm with high oleic acid and resistance to the peanut root-knot nematode. Several thousand plants from segregating populations were sampled and DNA was extracted. DNA was then analyzed for molecular markers, and results were provided to ARS scientist to aid in our breeding selection process. Data on genetic polymorphism was also generated to aid in the development of markers for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that can be used to improve future breeding efficiencies.