2019
Breeding of Improved Non-GMO Cultivars and Germplasm (2019)
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Dakota Soybean Council
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomics
Parent Project:
Breeding of Improved Non-GMO Cultivars and Germplasm
Lead Principal Investigator:
Ted Helms, North Dakota State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
QSSB
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Dakota Soybean Council
$225,697
Institution Funded:
North Dakota State University
$225,697
Brief Project Summary:

To aid growers in identifying the best soybean varieties for their fields, testing is conducted on soils prone to iron deficiency chlorosis and on sites infested with soybean cyst nematode. Growers are also provided with protein and oil content of private company varieties. The four specific research objectives include: increasing yield and profit on IDC-prone soils; enabling private companies and growers to compare yields of SCN-resistant cultivars; providing soybean growers with non-GMO cultivars that are genetically superior to currently grown cultivars; and collecting grain samples from the Variety Fee Tests and reporting protein and oil data in the NDSU Soybean Performance bulletin.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, seed dealers, agronomists

Information And Results
Final Project Results

Update:

View uploaded report Word file

Research conducted
In 2018, yield data was collected on 40 private company Xtend and RR2 varieties at two sites that had IDC (iron-deficiency chlorosis) symptoms. However, due to excessive rainfall and too much IDC, these yield trials were not reported in 2018. Four sites that were infested with SCN were used to test 27 Xtend and RR2 company varieties as well as 10 Liberty Link and non-GMO types. In 2018, 1584 new non-GMO experimental lines were tested for yield in replicated plots. Seed of one advanced line, ND12-15647 was increased. ND12-15647 was later released as ‘ND Rolette’. Protein and oil data for the variety fee test sites was collected and analyzed.

Why the research is important to ND soybean farmers
Soybean growers would like yield data on fields that have a past history of IDC. Growers would like to be able to identify varieties that have high yield on SCN-infested soil. This data will help them choose the best variety for different fields. Growers benefit when they have the option of planting non-GMO varieties because this gives them an alternative to purchasing expensive seed of GMO types each year.

Final findings of the research
Among the 27 Xtend and RR2 varieties that were evaluated for yield on SCN-infested soil sites, yield varied from a low of 48.7 to a high of 69.3 bu/acre. This data was published in the ‘North Dakota Soybean Performance Bulletin (A-843) and also online.

A new, non-GMO variety that was named ‘ND Rolette’ was released in January of 2019. ND Rolette has a relative maturity of 00.9 with exceptional high-yield for its maturity, very good IDC tolerance, resistance to lodging, and resistance to race 3 & 4 of phytopthora root rot.

In 2018, grain samples for protein and oil analyses were collected for all company varieties entered in the LaMoure, Grandin, Arthur, Hankinson, Milnor and Walcott, ND testing sites. These samples were analyzed and the data was reported in the ‘North Dakota Soybean Performance Bulletin (A-843)’.


Benefits/Recommendations to North Dakota soybean farmers and industry
The NDSU breeding program provides growers with the option of growing non-GMO varieties. Growers can use the published data from the SCN-infested soil variety trials and from the evaluation of IDC variety trials for yield to aid them in selecting varieties that would be especially suited to specific fields. This will help them to increase profit on those fields.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.