**9. Genetic manipulation in peanut**

Genetic transformation can make it easier to introduce possible candidate genes into plants for controlling a variety of crop-improvement features. Transformation technology paved the way for key genes to be transferred into the peanut genome for improved resistance to fungal, viral, and other pests, drought, and salinity, as well as the silencing of undesired genes and improved nutrient uptake. Transgenic peanuts with the human *Bcl-xL* gene expressed in their genome demonstrated high tolerance to oxidative and salt stresses [37]. By compartmentalizing Na+ ions in the vacuoles, overexpression of the *AtNHX1* gene in peanut (a vacuolar Na<sup>+</sup> /H+ antiportar) increased resistance to extreme salinity and water deprivation [38]. Under field settings, *PDH45*, a pea DNA helicase similar to eiF4A, displayed abiotic stress tolerance and increased peanut productivity at T3 generation [39]. In another study, transgenic peanuts expressing the *AtNAC2* and *MuNAC4* (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factors conferred drought, moisture stress, and salinity tolerance, as well as increased crop output [40, 41]. The list of genetically modified traits were shown in **Table 1**.


#### *Genetic Engineering for Oil Modification DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.101823*


#### **Table 1.**

*List of genetically modified peanut traits.*
