The Purdue Soybean Breeding Program develops superior conventional soybean varieties adapted to Indiana and distributes them to third-party licensees. To achieve this we will plant, phenotype, select and harvest at least 10,000 yield plots at multiple locations in Indiana in 2023. While implementing our breeding pipeline, we demonstrate how to select superior soybean varieties using UAS phenotypes and genomic data, we educate students in soybean genetics and quantitative methods in digital agriculture, and we leverage investments in our breeding activities to make advances in soybean phenomics. We also continue to develop new methods for selection of herbicide resilience in soybean varieties by seeking to identify new genetic resistance and deploying it in the breeding program. Our objectives are: 1. Develop soybean varieties in Maturity Group 2.5-4.5 with competitive yield potential, good agronomic performance, and pest resistance, and provide experimental lines to the private sector; 2. Conduct studies on breeding herbicide resilient soybeans (PPO inhibitors and Dicamba), including identifying new genetic resistance or resilience to pre-emergent herbicides.

Objective 1. Develop soybean varieties in Maturity Group 2.5-4.5 with competitive yield potential, good agronomic performance, and pest resistance, and provide experimental lines to the private sector.
Objective 2. Develop herbicide resilient soybeans (PPO inhibitors and Dicamba) in collaboration with including identifying new genetic resistance or resilience to pre-emergent herbicides.

Develop soybean varieties in Maturity Group 2.5-4.5 that are top-ranked for yield among public varieties. Discover and deploy valuable traits in soybean. Enhance soybean genetic diversity to maintain and increase genetic gain for yield potential. Improve soybean physiological efficiencies using phenomics and genomics. Track progress through yield rankings, seed requests, scholarly outputs, patents, graduate student employment in the seed industry, varieties licensed.

Variety performance summarized annually in the Uniform Soybean Test report viewed by seed industry professionals. Ag Alumni Seed promotes our varieties, and we meet with potential licensees at the Soybean Breeders’ Workshop, Corn Belt Seed Conference, ASTA CSS, etc. Research results are communicated through publications, students, conferences, field days, meetings, and seminars. Success in communication and engagement is gaged through seed requests from other breeders and third-party licensees and seed industry engagement. This project strengthens the reputation of Indiana Soy by attracting additional investments and public-private partnerships; we are part of an innovation ecosystem that addresses issues in the seed industry, soybean genetics, and soybean production, and we are collaborate with multiple private sector partners. Of course, education is key in our objectives and Dr. Rainey’s students continue to work with soybeans at Corteva (Johnston, IA), Bayer (Chesterfield, MO), and GDM Seeds (Champaign, IL), as well as at start-ups and universities. Further, two of Dr. Rainey’s five current graduate students are full-time employees in the seed industry working in soybean breeding programs- Corteva (Windfall, IN and GDM Seeds (Champaign, IL).

Update:

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New conventional soybean varieties for Indiana will be distributed to other breeding programs and released as varieties. The work on herbicide resilience could lead to discovery of new resistance and inform management options. We leverage the core breeding pipeline extensively for multidisciplinary research funded by other agencies, NCSRP, etc.- the Rainey Lab is planting experiments for five collaborators in 2022. This work will also inform management options through discoveries and new capabilities in soybean phenomics. We leverage the core breeding pipeline extensively for multidisciplinary research funded by other agencies, NCSRP, NIFA, and FFAR.