The effect of drought stress on the growth and yield of nine high oleic peanut varieties grown under rain shelters were analyzed in this study.In the pod stage,the largest decrease of stress index based on the height of main stem is 24% in Kainong 71,while the largest decrease of stress index based on the length of lateral branch is 28% in Kainong 1760.Varieties with increased number of branches with pods are Kainong 71,Kainong 176,Kainong 1760 and Kainong 312.The stress index based on yield decreased for most of varieties under drought stress.In the seedling stage,the root to cap ratio of most of varieties decreases due to drought stress.The stress index based on root to cap ratio is greater than one for Kainong 1760,Kainong 176,Kainong 308,Kainong 312,Kainong 61 and Kainong 71 at the pod stage.In summary,at the reproduction stage,the growth of peanut was inhibited and the yield decreased under moderate drought stress.The drought resistance coefficient was used to evaluate the performance of different varieties under drought stress.The results showed that Kainong 61,Kainong 176 and Kainong 1760 are resistant to drought with drought resistance coefficient greater than 1.The drought resistance coefficients of the rest of varieties are less than 1.A large decrease of the drought resistance coefficient by 27% indicates that Kainong 1715is mildly resistant to drought.