This project provides soybean farmers with improved non-GMO cultivars that have been
developed by NDSU. The NDSU soybean breeding program has a long history of providing very
competitive varieties, especially for conventional or non-GMO varieties. The project currently
has improved non-GMO experimental lines that are close to being released as named cultivars
or as specialty release food grade varieties. In addition, the non-GMO breeding effort is very
important as a source of high-yielding parents for use in the development of glyphosateresistant
cultivars or other premium projects such as high oleic. Also, growers need
information that enables them to select the best private company soybean cyst nematode
(SCN) resistant varieties. This project tests private company varieties for yield in SCN infested
soils. These data are then published online. Finally, as soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS)
has been observed in several counties in North Dakota, genetic resistance is necessary to
protect yields. It is possible to stack SDS resistance with SCN resistance to ensure a protection
of yield potential in NDSU varieties. This project would allow for continued breeding efforts to
stack SCN and SDS in NDSU germplasm.

This research had three broad objectives which included:
• provide soybean growers in North Dakota with non-GMO cultivars which are genetically
superior to cultivars that are currently grown
• to enable private companies and growers to compare yield of SCN-resistant cultivars
and experimental lines at three North Dakota sites that are infested with SCN
• create germplasm with SCN and SDS stacked resistance

Deliverable results include: i) development and release of non-GMO soybean varieties; ii) data
will be provided to aid growers in identification of which private company varieties are best
suited to their fields that are infested with SCN; iii) germplasm will be created with stacked SDS
and SCN resistance. The results of the SCN yield tests will be reported in the ‘North Dakota
Soybean Performance Bulletin (A-843)’ and also online at
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/varietytrials/soybean.

Updated January 5, 2024:
Breeding of Improved Non-GMO Cultivars and Germplasm (2023)- Miranda

Objectives of the research:
• provide soybean growers in North Dakota with non-GMO cultivars which are genetically
superior to cultivars that are currently grown
• to enable private companies and growers to compare yield of SCN-resistant cultivars
and experimental lines at three North Dakota sites that are infested with SCN
• create germplasm with SCN and SDS stacked resistance

Deliverables:
• development of non-GMO soybean cultivars and germplasm
• data will be provided to aid growers in identification of which private company varieties are best suited to their fields that are infested with SCN
• germplasm will be created with stacked SDS and SCN resistance.

Milestones: A complete field season is May-October. This includes planting in mid-May through early June. Fields are maintained weed free from planting until canopy closure in August. In-field crossing occurs in July. Maturity notes, plot evaluation, and line purification/rogueing occur in September. Harvest is completed in October. Data evaluation is done immediately following harvest. Decisions/selections about planting the following season are done in November. Experiments are designed and envelopes printed in December and seed packing and cleaning occurs December-April. SCN yield trial data are analyzed and reported in November.

Key performance indicators: The most important key performance indicator is the collection of useful data. It is not always possible to see yield and trait improvements every year, however if the data collected at harvest are useful and have low error, then the season is viewed as successful. In addition, the initiation of new populations creates new materials for the program. Successful crosses (F1s) are determined in October during harvest and throughout the year when conducted in growth chambers. Data that are successfully collected from SCN field trials are publicly reported online.

Completed work: The non-GMO program was half of the NDSU soybean breeding program in 2023. The program is transitioning to a core germplasm project in 2024. This will allow breeding efforts to improve germplasm to be concentrated in one project instead of split across a non-GMO and glyphosate tolerant project and strengthen breeding resources for success. The transition will occur over the course of 1-2 years.

In summer 2023, three conventional populations were initiated in the field. These crosses were conducted with North Dakota materials only. A greater emphasis is on yield improvement utilizing high yielding materials from Illinois and Nebraska. These crosses were conducted in growth chambers throughout the year. ~20 new populations were initiated with these materials to date in 2023 and sent to the winter nursery in Costa Rica for rapid generation advancement. Population development will continue throughout the year.

As part of the transition to a core germplasm project, emphasis was made on non-GMO F5 plant rows for selection. Three hundred and four F5 plant rows were selected for advancement to preliminary yield trials based on either agronomic appearance (elimination of black pods and long internode traits), potential SCN resistance, or potential for tofu grade side size.

Fifty-seven lines were selected for advancement from first year yield trials to 2024 second year yield trials. This was based on yield potential, maturity, and SCN resistance potential based on pedigree. Selections for third year yield trials were also successful. Seven lines were selected for third year yield testing based on yield, maturity, IDC score, SCN resistance potential, and phytophthora resistance. One line is being advanced to fourth year yield trials based on the aforementioned traits and confirmed moderate resistance to SCN.

Conventional germplasm without herbicide traits is not in demand at the moment so no lines are being evaluated for variety release. The non-GMO project is useful for finding high yielding lines with disease resistance and using the lines as parents. From the 2023 field trials, 4 new parents were selected for their yield and disease resistance advantage and are currently being used to create new populations in growth chambers this winter utilizing high yielding materials from Illinois and Nebraska.

Soybean cyst nematode yield trials for private companies were successful this year. Three locations provided results of varying severity of infection which allows a comprehensive trial of different types of field infection. Results of the SCN variety fee tests and protein and oil results have been reported online at https://vt.ag.ndsu.edu/list/soy and will be printed in the Soybean Variety Trials bulletin A-843. In 2023, 77 private company lines were entered into the SCN trial, more than double the 35 lines that were entered in 2022.

Resistance to soybean sudden death syndrome was initiated in 2021. These crosses were done in the non-GMO project in order to create hybridizations with SCN resistant lines, which are more prominent in the non-GMO project. 1789 unique lines were developed and then evaluated at the F4 generation in September 2023 with the Agriplex SoySNP community genotyping platform which includes SCN markers contributed by Michigan State University. Using the SCN resistance marker from this genotyping platform, we were able to select only 384 lines with SCN resistance. Those lines are now being advanced and increased in the winter nursery in Costa Rica to enter preliminary yield trials in 2024. They will be phenotyped in a field setting for SDS resistance.

So far the year has been successful. Phenotyping for SDS resistance is a challenge that needs to be resolved, however fixing SCN resistance in experimental lines is an accomplishment. The selected materials from yield testing are very exciting and will strengthen the core germplasm project.

View uploaded report

Updated July 1, 2024:

View uploaded report

Executive Summary

a. Research project title, Principal and Co-Investigators

Title: Breeding of Improved Non-GMO Cultivars and Germplasm (2024)
Principal Investigator: Carrie Miranda, PhD

b. Why the Research is Important to North Dakota Soybean Farmers

Improved non-GMO soybean cultivars give growers the option reducing their input costs by purchasing NDSU varieties and having the ability to save their own seed for planting the subsequent year. Information about the yield of company varieties on fields that are infested with SCN will enable growers to increase yield and profit by enabling them to identify the best varieties for their fields. Finally, as soybean sudden death and soybean cyst nematode threaten yields across North Dakota, it is necessary to develop germplasm that has stacked resistance to these diseases. This project will continue the advancement of these breeding efforts.

c. Research Conducted: (brief description of materials and method)

Development of non-GMO soybean germplasm is an ongoing duty. The soybean breeding program is transitioning to have all germplasm as conventional and incorporate an herbicide trait introgression pipeline. This will allow focus to only be on germplasm development in one project instead of spreading resources thin. Improvements have been made using growth chamber resources to expediate breeding to make new varieties more quickly. SCN field testing for private companies continues and results are published on the NDSU website. SCN and SDS resistant lines are currently being developed.

d. Findings of the Research
We found that is possible to speed up breeding by two years using growth chambers to create new crosses. The first lines from this trial will be tested in North Dakota this summer in 2024 that were only created in 2022. SCN testing will continue for private companies with the assistance of extension pathologist Dr. Wade Webster. SCN and SDS stacked breeding lines with begin first year yield testing in summer 2024.

e. Benefits and Recommendation to North Dakota Soybean Farmers and the Industry

Speeding up the creation of soybean germplasm will allow high yielding and disease resistant varieties to be available much sooner than was previously possible. The goal is to use these soybean backgrounds to add newly acquired herbicide traits into high yielding varieties at a faster speed.

Improved non-GMO soybean cultivars give growers the option reducing their input costs by
purchasing NDSU varieties and having the ability to save their own seed for planting the
subsequent year. There are increasing requests by growers for yellow hilum or “food grade”
premium soybean, especially in northern North Dakota. Several food soy companies have
requested to license NDSU varieties. Information about the yield of company varieties on fields
that are infested with SCN will enable growers to increase yield and profit by enabling them to
identify the best varieties for their fields. Finally, as soybean sudden death and soybean cyst
nematode threaten yields across North Dakota, it is necessary to develop germplasm that has
stacked resistance to these diseases. This project will continue the advancement of these
breeding efforts.