Registration of two peanut mutants TifGP-8 and TifGP-9 with reduced expression of peanut allergens Ara h 1.02 and Ara h 2.02

Authors: CHU, YE - University Of Georgia; Knoll, Joseph; GUO, Y - University Of Georgia; Holbrook Jr, C; OZIAS-AKINS, PEGGY - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Registrations
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2025
Publication Date: 6/4/2025
Citation: Chu, Y., Knoll, J.E., Guo, Y.P., Holbrook Jr, C.C., Ozias-Akins, P. 2025. Registration of two peanut mutants TifGP-8 and TifGP-9 with reduced expression of peanut allergens Ara h 1.02 and Ara h 2.02. Journal of Plant Registrations. 19,e70012. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.70012.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.70012

Interpretive Summary: Peanut is one of the most severe types of food allergy affecting approximately 1% of the U.S. population. Sixteen peanut proteins have been identified as allergens. Of these, the major allergens are Ara h 1, 2, and 3. We used a chemical mutagen to develop a mutagenized peanut population and screened this population for genetic mutants having reduced content of the major allergens. We identified one individual that had reduced Ara h1 and another individual that had reduced Ara h2. Germplasm release of these allergen mutants will provide genetic resources for breeding reduced allergen peanuts. Reduction of major allergen accumulation in peanut products will reduce the allergenicity of peanut and potentially alleviate the severity of allergic response.

Technical Abstract: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a nutritious food source; however, it can cause serious allergic response among sensitized children and adults. Sixteen peanut proteins have been identified as allergens. Among those, vicilin protein Ara h 1 and conglutinin Ara h 2 are considered major peanut allergens due to the high frequency of recognition by IgE from allergic patients. Reducing the accumulation of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 in peanut could potentially alleviate the severity of peanut allergic reactions. In order to identify allergen reduced lines, an EMS mutagenized peanut population was screened with gene specific primers by Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes (TILLING) approach. TifGP-8 (PI 701083) is a mutant line carrying a transitional C to T mutation in Ara h 1.02 which resulted in a premature stop codon and truncation in protein synthesis. TifGP-9 (PI 701084) carries a G to A transition at the start codon of Ara h 2.02 resulting in a knockout of protein expression. Two CAPS markers targeted at the mutation loci were developed to identify homologous lines among progenies. Germplasm release of these allergen mutants will provide genetic resources for breeding reduced allergen peanuts.