Activities for Objective: Develop Novel MG I-III non-GMO soybean varieties with >75% Oleic and <3% Linolenic fatty acid contents.
Continuation of the breeding pipeline for new high Oleic varieties has progressed as proposed. Fifty-four new crosses were made between twelve high Oleic lines and other improved lines showing desirable yield and disease resistance packages. A high cumulative success rate of 43.0% was achieved for all crosses, with hybrid pods scheduled for harvest in Q4 2023.
Approximately 50,000 F2 seeds harvested in 2022 were analyzed by NIR for oleic acid content. About 6,000 selections were made and advanced to the F3 generation in the greenhouse. F3 seed was subjected to gas chromatography for oleic acid analysis and over 3,000 selections were made for additional greenhouse generation advancement. All F3 lines meeting oleic acid content thresholds were tested with DNA markers associated with resistance to SCN and Phytophthora root and stem rot. Nine hundred and eighty lines with favorable oil and resistance markers were selected and tested in single-row plots for initial field evaluations.
Qualitative and quantitative selection of approximately 5-10% of single-row plots will be made in Q4 2023 for 2024 preliminary yield trials.
Eighty high oleic lines were tested in preliminary yield trials at three locations, and 43 high oleic lines were tested in advanced yield trials at seven locations in 2023. Five lines selected from 2022 advanced yield trials were entered in 2023 commercial yield trials, USDA uniform testing, and SOYLEIC Contract Testing. Top performing lines will be selected Q4 2023 and submitted for commercial release Q1 2024.