Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a tetraploid species with an A and B genome, while the majority of wild Arachis species are diploid with distinct genomes. In pre-breeding programs, one way to introgress interesting wild genes into peanut is by producing amphidiploids. This study aimed at the hybridization between distinct amphidiploids and their characterization, to combine high crossability with peanut, observed in some amphidiploids, with high pest and disease resistances observed in others. These new hybrids were called complex hybrids. Four amphidiploids previously obtained were crossed at four different combinations, and the derived complex hybrids were crossed with four peanut cultivars. Morphological, reproductive, chromosome complement, molecular markers for hybrid identification, phytopatological, and entomological characterizations were performed on the complex hybrids. All cross combinations resulted in complex hybrids. One complete complement of each diploid progenitor was confirmed in each hybrid. Plants of six distinct hybrid combinations were obtained between the complex hybrids and peanut. Based on morphological characterization, differences among progenies from distinct cross combinations were observed. Complex hybrids were considered more resistant to all diseases and pests than peanut cultivars. The simultaneous introgression of genes from four wild Arachis species into peanut was possible through the development of complex hybrids.

ABSTRACT In Brazil, the thrips (Enneothrips flavens Moulton) and rednecked peanutworm (Stegasta bosquella Chambers) are considered key pests for the peanut crop. Wild species show resistance to both of these pests, and can be used in breeding programs. The production of the sterile interspecific hybrids is necessary, which could be colchicine treated to get a synthetic amphidiploid with the same or similar genomic configuration of cultivated peanut. In this context, this study proposed the hybridization of wild pest-resistant species in 18 distinct combinations, obtaining the interspecific hybrids of Arachis and completing their characterization by (i) the reproductive characterization through pollen stainability with 2% acetocarmine (AC) solution with glycerin and 0.25% tetrazolium solution (TZ), (ii) the molecular certification of hybridization using microsatellite markers, and (iii) the morphological characterization using 61 morphological traits with Principal Component Analysis. Using reproductive, morphological and molecular characterizations, we identified six hybrid plants of the following crosses: three fromA. magna V 13751 × A. kuhlmannii V 9243, two from A. magna V 13751 × A. kempff-mercadoi V 13250, and one from A. magna K 30097 ×A. kuhlmannii V 7639. Amphidiploids can be reached based on these diploid plants and they can be used in breeding programs aiming pest resistance introgression.