PEANUT DISEASES 285 



is found most frequently in certain varieties of peanuts, but the possibility 

 of its presence in any variety makes necessary elaborate and time-consum- 

 ing sampling procedures. Since the price that the grower receives for 

 peanuts is determined by the shelling percentage and by the amount of 

 damage in the sample, concealed damage often becomes very important. 

 It was estimated that in 1945 farmers in Alabama alone lost 2j4 million 

 dollars from penalties imposed because of damage (162). 



The importance of concealed damage in any given locality depends 

 largely upon the variety of peanuts grown. Concealed damage is some- 

 times found in Spanish peanuts (114, 162) but it is rarely of any conse- 

 quence (48, 162), so that in areas where Spanish is the predominant 

 variety concealed damage is of slight concern. Farmers in other areas 

 (162), however, find concealed damage very important. A newer variety, 

 Dixie runner (30) , appears to be less susceptible than the common south- 

 eastern runner (30, 52, 82, 156, 162). Concealed damage has never been 

 considered important in Virginia-type peanuts. 



A preliminary study of varietal susceptibility has been made in 

 Georgia (52). From this and other observations the following tentative 

 grouping of peanut varieties according to apparent susceptibility to con- 

 cealed damage is offered : 



Preliminary data indicate that some unreleased hybrids and selections 

 of the large-seeded type are more resistant to concealed damage than is 

 Dixie runner (52). Even though apparent resistance to the disease is not 

 yet fully explained there is hope that resistant large-seeded varieties will 

 replace the susceptible types. 



Description. Concealed damage is seed decay beginning at the inter- 

 face between cotyledons and developing outward. The first evidence is a 

 slight discoloration of this interface, and this is usually followed by defi- 



