Abstract:In order to make full use of local peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) germplasm resources, the utilization value of 200 peanut germplasm materials collected from South China was explored, and 12 main characters of peanut germplasm materials were investigated, and further identified and evaluated by variation analysis, correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed that 7 plant-type related traits of these materials had a wide range of variation, with the variation coefficient between 0.16-0.73. While the variation range of the 3 quality-related traits was minimal, with the variation coefficient between 0.03-0.09. The variation range of the two yield-related traits was median with the coefficient of variation was 0.28 and 0.37. And correlation analysis showed that there was significant correlation between yieldrelated traits and quality-related traits. Principal component analysis classified 12 main traits into 4 principal components,with a cumulative contribution rate of 71.51%, which could comprehensively summarize the performance of these traits. Then, the 200 materials were divided into four groups by cluster analysis based on their traits. The C and D germplasm materials had the highest comprehensive principal component scores and showed excellent performance in yield and qualityrelated traits. The identification and evaluation results provided a scientific theoretical basis for the further rational utilization of 200 peanut germplasm materials and breeding of excellent varieties suitable for South China.