Current status of groundnut improvement in UgandaD KOkelloauthorM AUgenauthorT LOdongauthorEMonyoauthorEAkpoauthorPOkoriauthorC MDeomauthorIn Uganda, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) is the second most important legume after beans. Groundnuts is cultivated on nearly 260,000 ha, representing 24.6% of the total arable land. On-farm pod yields are low, averaging 800 kg/ha of dry pods, compared to on-station potential yields of 3,000kg/ha. Sales from current production could potentially generate $344 million to the producers who are largely small-scale farmers. The yield gaps are attributed to a combination of biotic, abiotic, cultural and political factors. Since the 1920s, research efforts have released 24 varieties, the most recent commercial varieties being the Serenut 1-14 series. These varieties have overcome some of the mentioned production constraints. However, varied growing agroecologies, land tenure systems, diverse market preferences, and emerging stresses call for continuous research. Current research agenda includes breeding for high oleic, leafminer resistance, confectionery, aflatoxin tolerance, drought tolerance, early to medium maturing varieties, high yielding, and rosette disease resistant varieties. We have initiated Marker Assisted Selection for high oleic breeding and adopted BMS for Digitalization of data capture, management, analyses and storage. Recently developed regeneration protocol will aid in introgressing additional traits across taxa. The bimodal rainfall pattern and active hybridization programme increases our breeding cycles. To date, the groundnut breeding program has an active breeding pipeline frequently releasing varieties and lines which have already been shared with National Programs across Africa, Haiti and the USA with many additional National Programs making requests. We have strong partnerships in Research and Development among the African Countries, USAID, ICRISAT, and BMGF.Crop ImprovementGroundnut2017-02Conference or Workshop Item