Abstract: The acquisition and induction of desiccation tolerance associated with the expression of heat-stable proteins in the developing peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. ) seeds were studied. Desiccation tolerance of peanut seeds was achieved during 45 to 65 DAP (days after pegging) embryogenesis, while a set of low molecular weight (9 to 15.5 kD) heat-stable polypeptides was preferentially expressed. Slow drying regime applied in vitro to 25 and 35 DAP peanut embryos induced desiccation tolerance and the expression of the same subset of polypeptides. Mature drying treatment enhanced the ability of 65 DAP peanut embryos to withstand fast drying, also increased the heat stability of arachins, the major peanut storage protein, which was heat labile during 45 to 65 DAP embryogenesis. It was concluded that the heat-stable proteins may contribute to desiccation tolerance of the peanut seeds, and the low molecular weight heat-stable polypeptides may confer nonspecifieally heat tolerance on peanut storage proteins which were normally heat labile.

Key words: Arachis hypogaea, Seed, Desiccation tolerance, Heat stable protein