4 minute read
Peanut Pioneer Extraordinaire: Q&A with Dr.Charles Simpson
from PQ 50
By Ashton Pellom
Dr. Charles Simpson dedicated over 50 years to advancing peanut science. As a pioneering peanut breeder at Texas A&M, he led expeditions to South America, collecting rare wild peanut species to enhance cultivated peanuts. Simpson’s work unlocked genetic diversity, enabling breakthroughs in disease resistance and drought tolerance. He mentored generations of peanut researchers, inspiring them to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Simpson’s passion, perseverance and scientific contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on the global peanut industry. His legacy as a peanut research trailblazer will continue to benefit farmers and consumers worldwide.
NPB: Dr. Simpson, you’ve dedicated your career to exploring the wild relatives of the peanut plant. What inspired this passion?
Simpson: Well, it all started when the dean at Texas A&M kept pestering me to go to graduate school instead of becoming a county agent. He convinced me to pursue a PhD, and the next thing I knew, I was being offered a peanut breeding job here in Stephenville, Texas. I’ll admit, I didn’t know much about peanuts at the time — just that they came in a bag and cost a nickel! But I accepted the challenge, and the rest is history.
NPB: Your expeditions to South America to collect wild peanut species sound like the stuff of adventure novels. Can you share some of your most memorable experiences?
Simpson: Oh my, where do I begin? Those trips were certainly not for the faint of heart. One time, my colleague Dr. Walton Gregory and I got stranded for five days when the radio at our makeshift airstrip hadn’t worked in years! We had to sweet-talk a missionary pilot to take us to the next village. Another expedition, we got stuck for 10 days when our vehicle blew an engine 750 kilometers from home. The Paraguayan army ended up rescuing us. But the real thrill was the discovery — finding an entirely new peanut species that no one had ever seen before. The adrenaline rush of stumbling upon something so unique is unmatched.
NPB: What were some of the key breakthroughs that came from your wild peanut expeditions?
Simpson: The wild species have been an absolute game-changer for peanut breeding. When I started, the cultivated peanut had a very narrow genetic base. But by crossing it with wild relatives, we were able to introduce valuable traits like nematode resistance, disease resistance and even drought tolerance. One of my proudest achievements was developing a hybrid that combined early leaf spot resistance from two wild species. That germplasm has been widely used by breeders around the world.
NPB: Looking to the future, what are your hopes for the Arachis Wild Species Collection you’ve helped build over the decades?
Simpson: I truly believe that collection holds the key to improving the peanut crop for the next 50 years and beyond. The molecular techniques being developed now will allow breeders to unlock all sorts of valuable traits from those wild relatives. Things like drought tolerance, oil production for biofuels — the possibilities are endless. Of course, I wish we could access a few more species that are currently off-limits, but overall, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. My only regret is that my Parkinson’s may prevent me from making it out to Brazil one last time to explore that elusive area I’ve been eyeing. But I know the next generation of peanut scientists is in good hands. This wild peanut collection is their treasure trove to explore.
NPB: NPB has been a steadfast supporter of your work. How has that support impacted your research over the years?
Simpson: I can’t say enough good things about NPB. Their funding has been absolutely crucial, especially in supporting the replacement of lost material from the NPGS peanut germplasm collection in Griffin, Georgia. That kind of unwavering support makes all the difference. I’m forever grateful to the Board and the entire peanut industry for believing in my mission.
Since 2001, NPB has allocated more than $48.5 million toward state and industry production research, including Dr. Simpson’s research.
