Database Research SummariesBreeding of soybean for yield gains and protection by introgression of defensive traits
Research Focus
The focus of this project is to increase soybean yield and increase defensive traits for soybeans.
Objectives
- Search for new sources of resistance from the National Soybean Germplasm Collection.
- Genotyping to determine molecular information on new donor sources.
- High throughput phenotyping to identify resistance.
- Apply bioinformatics to identify candidate genes.
- Use models to determine the most efficient gene combinations.
- Conduct field experiments to validate gene combinations and agronomic performance.
Results
- The breeding objectives centered in the protection of the yield of soybean by breeding and releasing high-yielding germplasms and cultivars. This is accomplished by adding to the cultivars that will be used in production fields, new genes conferring resistance. The protection of the soybean yield is also accomplished by a stringent selection and testing program implemented to identify the resistant cultivars and germplasms with yields that are superior to current cultivars.
- Upon the impending closing of the project, the 2018 planting season was conducted with reduced objectives, in order to accomplish and correctly finalize the work utilizing the available resources. The following experiments were conducted:
- Crossing block. F¬1 seeds were obtained for 18 different combinations that will form the foundation of the soybean cyst nematode work that will be conducted.
- Maturity separation. A block smaller than in the past was planted for pulling individual plants by maturity. The efforts were concentrated on two pathogens, soybean cyst nematode and Fusarium virguliforme, causal organisms of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), the most important pathogens currently affecting soybeans in Iowa.
Importance
- Research will improve seed yield and farmers’ income, and pathogen resistance to protect yield.
- Improve to bring new resistant genes and increase genetic base of the soybean.
For more information about this research project, please visit the National Soybean Checkoff Research Database.
Funded in part by the soybean checkoff.
