This project continues research that focuses on soybean plants with increased root length and branching to boost yield and resiliency of yield. A strong root system maximizes plant nutrition, defense and water use. Soybean plants with increased root length and branching can significantly improve water/nutrient uptake efficiency and yield potential in diverse environments. This “root genes" project focuses on the underground to make a better soybean crop, and more of it, aboveground. To do this, work aims to produce stable transgenic soybean plants overexpressing novel soybean root genes and evaluate them for impact on root growth and promoting tolerance to drought and nutrient deficiency.
Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents, soybean breeders, seed companies