A large set of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) germplasm including mini core were screened for the resistance response for rust and late leaf spot and identified 29 accessions resistant and 47 as moderately resistant. This subset provides list of accessions with combined resistance to rust and late leaf spot diseases. These trait specific sources can be the key to develop agronomically superior groundnut cultivars with multiple biotic stress resistance.

Groundnut is one of the most important oilseed crop and widely grown in the tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions of the world. It is a rich source of protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins and also grown essentially for its oil content in most of the countries. Rust and late leaf spot are the most serious fungal diseases of groundnut worldwide. Both diseases normally occur together causing severe damage to foliage and occasioning yield losses as high as 70%.