PROXIMATE COMPOSITION, AMINO-ACID PROFILE, FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION, AND MINERAL-CONTENT OF PEANUT SEEDS HYDROPONICALLY GROWN AT ELEVATED CO2LEVELS

Peanut plants (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. Georgia Red) were grown hydropo nically using a recirculating nutrient film technique. The effect of C O2 enrichment on nutritive composition of hydroponic peanut seeds was examined at two elevated CO2 levels (700 and 1400 ppm) that simulate p otential conditions in National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA) Controlled Ecological Life-Support Systems (CELSS) and compared to ambient CO2 condition in hydroponics (the control). Plants were har vested at 97 days after planting, and the seeds were air-dried and ana lyzed for composition. Percentages of crude protein, crude fat, ash, a nd carbohydrate of hydroponic peanut seeds were around 30%, 30%, 3%, a nd 30%, respectively. The major amino acids were aspartic acid, glutam ic acid, and arginine. The limiting amino acid of peanut, methionine, was 1.2%. Linoleic acid was the major fatty acid, followed by oleic an d palmitic acids. The major mineral elements were K, P, Mg, and Ca. Th e results showed that certain peanut varieties can be grown hydroponic ally. The composition of the hydroponically grown peanuts is generally similar to reported peanut composition The nutrient composition was n ot affected at the elevated CO2 concentrations investigated.