SOYBEAN CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT AND GERMPLASM ENHANCEMENT

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1014421
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2017
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2022
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703

Performing Department
Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences

Non Technical Summary
The economics of soybean production are dictated by crop yield, grain price, and production costs. Plant breeding is the art and science by which crop yields can be enhanced through recombination and selection of favorable types. Public plant breeding programs like the University of Arkansas' serve as a source for high-quality, competitive soybean varieties available at low cost for growers. They also provide opportunities for risk management by means of diversification of seed sources, as in the case of conventional soybean varieties. The University of Arkansas variety development program also works with unique and specialty traits that, because of its niche-market nature or long-term development perspectives, private companies may find unprofitable to breed for. Our research identifies lines with increased yield, adaptation, stress tolerance, pest resistance, and genetic diversity; elements that are essential for successful yield improvement efforts. Furthermore, the varieties and germplasm released from our breeding program are available to breeders from both public and private institutions, thereby providing an accessible and complementary gene pool that benefits all of the U.S. soybean industry.

Animal Health Component

40%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

10%

Applied

40%

Developmental

50%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
202	1820	1081	70%
201	1820	1080	30%

Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1820 - Soybean;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding; 1080 - Genetics;

Keywords

soybean

breeding

cultivar development

germplasm enhancement

genetic diversity

Goals / Objectives
To develop and release new soybean cultivars with enhanced performance and profitability for the soybean industry, and to broaden the genetic base and enhance the productivity of southern soybean germplasm by using exotic and diverse genetic sources. Specifically,Develop high-yielding maturity group (MG) 4 and 5 cultivars (Glyphosate-tolerant and conventional) adapted to various environments and production systems in Arkansas.Develop new varieties and germplasm with enhanced resistance or tolerance to soybean diseases and stresses, including cyst nematode, root knot nematode, sudden death syndrome, stem canker, frogeye leaf spot, cercospora leaf blight, salt, waterlogging, and drought.Incorporate useful genetic diversity for yield and seed compositional traits from exotic plant introductions (PIs) and other elite germplasm into high-yielding lines adapted to Arkansas growing environments.Incorporate unique traits-of-interest from diverse germplasm into southern elite cultivars and lines.

Project Methods
The program uses well-established and standard procedures for plant breeding, including the stages of identification of genetic variants among parental lines, recombination of variants by intercrossing, and identification and selection of new useful variants, in a cyclical manner. Each year we will make approximately 300 different crosses amongst internal UA germplasm and germplasm sources from various breeding programs. The plant populations at early generations will be advanced using a modified-pod-pick descent method, and selection for glyphosate tolerance will start early in the inbreeding process by herbicide sprays to benefit from gametic selection. Off-season nursery facilities will be used to speed up the breeding process to meet program goals. Approximately 10,000 to 15,000 F4:5 rows will be evaluated for adaptation and agronomic performance. About 800 to 1200 new MG 4 and 5 lines will be selected for testing in the Preliminary Yield trials. Approximately 100-120 lines will be selected and evaluated in Advanced Yield trials in Arkansas. Typically, selected lines will be tested at 3 locations with 3 replications in year one, and further evaluated at 5 locations with 3 replications in year two to ensure the stability and adaptability in AR. All advanced lines will be tested for disease resistance in the greenhouse and/or field. The best lines will be evaluated in the USDA Southern Uniform Tests and the Arkansas Soybean Performance Test. Seed of the promising lines will be increased at the foundation seed farm in preparation for cultivar release.

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this proposal were the global scientific community, and students, farmers and the overall seed industry within a state, regional, national and international footprint. Efforts to reach those audiences included: 7 poster presentations at two international scientific meetings. 1 meetingwith a vice president of anational farmer's representative organization. Effort to reach out student audience occurred through my direct direction of 4 students with research studies supported by this proposal. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One scientist and three students attended the American Society of Agronomy meetings in San Antonio, TX in November 2019. One scientist attended the Plant Breeding Workshop in Tucson, AZ in 2020. Three students and four scientists attended the Soybean Breeders Workshop in 2020. All students have been immersed insoybean breeding and geneticsresearch. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were diseminated by the aforementioned list of conference presentation, research papers published, and meetings with local, national and international industry and stakeholder representatives. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Breeding is a multi-year approach; we intend to continue with our cycliclal process of population development, germplasm derivation, and testing of new lines and pre-commercial varieties.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? R13-14635RR was released as a public soybean variety named UA54i19GT. R16-253, R16-259, and R15-2422 were conditionally approved as MG4 variety releases. Tested over 1600 entries across all breeding stages. We managed to execute this safely in the midst of a pandemic, without anybody working for our program testing positive for COVID-19. Reached and exceeded goal of 75% proportion of MG4 entries in the commodity breeding sub-program. In 2020 we had 83% of Indeterminate MG4 entries across breeding stages in commodity soybeans, up from 49% in 2019, 31% in 2018 and 18% in 2017.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Florez-Palacios, L., Mozzoni, L. A., Orazaly, M., Manjarrez-Sandoval, P., Wu, C., Dombek, D., Chen, P. (2020). Registration of soybean germplasm R11?7999 with high seed protein content and high yield. Journal of Plant Registrations, 14(1), 82-86.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Manjarrez-Sandoval, P., Chen, P., Mozzoni, L. A., Florez-Palacios, L., Orazaly, M., Wu, C., Sinclair, T., Carter Jr., T., Purcell, L., King, C. A. (2020). Registration of soybean germplasm lines R10?2436 and R10?2710 with drought tolerance traits and high yield under moderate water stress. Journal of Plant Registrations, 14(2), 189-196.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Moretti, A., Arias, C., Mozzoni, L. A., Chen, P., McNeece, B., Rouf Mian, M. A., McHale, L., Alonso, A. (2020). Workflow for the Quantification of Soluble and Insoluble Carbohydrates in Soybean Seed. Molecules, 25(17).
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Harrison, Derrick. "Developing a High-Throughput Method to Screen Soybean Germplasm for Hypoxia Tolerance in Hydroponic Systems." (2020).

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this proposal were the global scientific community, and students, farmers and the overall seed industry within a state, regional,national and international footprint.Efforts to reach those audiences included: * 6 oral or poster presentations at a national meeting scientific meeting. * Effort to reach out student audience occurred through my direct direction of 3 students with research studies supported by this proposal. * 2 meetings with national seed industry reps, at the American Seed Trade Association in December 2018and the Southern Breeder's Tour in September 2019. * 3 meetings at international joint industry-academic forums inArgentina and Australia in July and August, 2019, respectively. * 3conferences/field days and one non-peer reviewed magazine articlewere part of efforts to reach out farmersin August, 2019. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The three graduate students in the program attended the Plant Breeding Workshop in Tucson, AZ in 2019, the Soybean Breeders Workshop in 2019, and the Southern Soybean Breeders tour in September 2019;they have also been immersed in soybean breeding and genetics research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were diseminated by the aforementioned list of conference presentation, research papers published, and meetings with local, national and international industry and research partners. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Breeding is a multi-year approach; we intend to continue with our cyclical process of population development, germplasm derivation, and testing of new lines and pre-commercial varieties.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Submitted 4 lines (R16-253, R16-259, R15-2422, R13-14635RR) to the Plant Materials Release Committee for consideration as Commercial Variety Releases. All approved. Redesign of soybean breeding program: Planted MG4 breeding plots in April, for the first time in recent history April 23rd, Rohwer, 705 plots April 30th, Keiser, 750 plots Reached 49% of MG4 entries in the commodity breeding sub-program, up from 31% in 2018 and 18% in 2017. End goal is 75% MG4 entries by 2021 Reached 80% indeterminate entries in the commodity breeding sub-program, up from 26% in 2018 and 3% in 2017. Goal reached. Tested over 1,300 yield trial entries across all breeding stages, up from approximately 1,000 in 2018 and 600 in 2017. In 2019 we doubled the number of entries in 1st year yield trial compared to 2017. Goal is to test (either via field or genomic selection) 1000 entries in preliminary stages per year. Reached balance of 50% program entries under commodity breeding subprogram, 25% germplasm enhancement, and 25% food&feed types. Goal reached

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Cunicelli, M. J., H. S. Bhandari, P. Chen, C. E. Sams, M. A. Rouf Mian, L. A. Mozzoni, C. J. Smallwood, and V. R. Pantalone. 2019. Effect of a Mutant Danbaekkong Allele on Soybean Seed Yield, Protein, and Oil Concentration. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. DOI 10.1002/aocs.12261
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Moseley, D., L.A. Mozzoni, P. Manjarrez, S.L. Florez-Palacios, M. Orazaly, C. Wu, D. Dombek, and P. Chen. 2019. Registration of UA Mulberry Vegetable Soybean Cultivar. J. Plant. Reg. 13:28-30. doi:10.3198/jpr2018.03.0009crc
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Orazaly, M., S.L. Florez-Palacios, P. Manjarrez, L.A. Mozzoni, D. Dombek, C. Wu, and P. Chen. 2019. Registration of UA 5715GT Soybean Cultivar. J. Plant. Reg. 13:31-37. doi:10.3198/jpr2018.03.0011crc.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: da Silva, M. P., M. Klepadlo, E. E. Gbur, A. Pereira, R. E. Mason, J. C. Rupe, B. H. Bluhm, L. Wood, L. A. Mozzoni, and P. Chen. 2019. QTL Mapping of Charcoal Rot Resistance in PI 567562A Soybean Accession. Crop Sci. 59:474-479. doi:10.2135/cropsci2018.02.0145
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: da Silva, M. P. A. Pereira, J. C. Rupe, B. H. Bluhm, E. E. Gbur, L. Wood, L. A. Mozzoni, and P. Chen. 2019. Effectiveness of a seed plate assay for evaluating charcoal rot resistance in soybean and the relationship to field performance. Plant Dis. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-18-1908-RE
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: da Silva, M. P., A. Z. Zaccaron, B. H. Bluhm, J. C. Rupe, L. Wood, L. A. Mozzoni, R. E. Mason, S. Yingling, and A. Pereira*. 2019. Bulked segregant analysis using next-generation sequencing for identification of genetic loci for charcoal rot resistance in soybean. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, 101440, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2019.101440.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Mozzoni, L.A., and P. Chen. 2019. Correlations of Yield and Quality Traits between Immature and Mature Seed Stages of Edamame Soybean. Journal of Crop Improvement, 33:1,67-82, DOI:10.1080/15427528.2018.1542366
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Florez-Palacios, S.L., M. Orazaly, P. Manjarrez, C. Wu, L.A. Mozzoni, D. Dombek, and P. Chen. 2019. Registration of UA 5115C Soybean Cultivar. J. Plant. Reg. 13:38-41. doi:10.3198/jpr2018.03.0014crc.

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this proposal were students, farmers and the overall seed industry within a state, regional and national footprint. Efforts to reach those audiences included: * 2 meetings with national seed industry reps, at the American Seed Trade Association in December 2017and the Southern Breeder's Tour in September 2017. * 6 meetings with local industry reps in various and different events, including board meetings, conferences, field days, and closed-door meetings,that took place in November 2017, and in January, February, April, July and August, 2018. * 2 conferences/field days were part of efforts to reach out farmers, in February and August, 2018 * Effort to reach out student audience occurred through my direct direction of 3 students with research studies supported by this proposal. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?3 new graduate students were admitted to the program, and have been immersed in soybean breeding and genetics research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As indicated in the Audience section, 10 different meetings/conferences/field days were used as a platform to disseminate results and engage with stakeholders. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Breeding is a multi-year approach; we intend to continue with our cycliclal process of population development, germplasm derivation, and testing of new lines and pre-commercial varieties.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? As previously indicated in the "Other Products" section of the REEport, we made progress on the development of new breeding lines in all four goals of this proposal. Lines were derived/advanced across all stages for all trait projects, and a total of 22 new pre-commercial lines were entered in the AR State Variety Trials in 2018.

Publications

• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Wu, C., L.A. Mozzoni, P. Chen, W. Hummer, G. Kaur, H. Ye, J. Orlowski, B. Buckley, G. Shannon, and H. Nguyen. 2018. Advances in flood-tolerant varieties of soybean. In H.T. Nguyen (ed.) Achieving sustainable cultivation of soybeans. Volume 1: Breeding and cultivation techniques. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK.