The program has successfully released several new soybean varieties and germplasm lines with SDS resistance. Dr. Kantartzi has released cultivar ‘Saluki 4313’ of MG V; Dr. Cianzio has released two germplasm lines AR10SDS (partially resistant to SDS), and AR11SDS is resistant to SDS (both germplasm lines are also resistant to soybean cyst nematodes); and Dr. Wang has released a germplasm line identified as EO7051, which is highly resistant to SDS.

Dr. Hartman has identified new plant introductions in the USDA’s soybean germplasm collection which are resistance to SDS. Dr. Bond has conducted the SDS Soybean Variety Regional Test that evaluates over 200 advanced breeding lines from the public sector. These programs are generating new genetic resources for soybean breeders working on developing new soybean lines with improved resistance to SDS.

The soybean breeders associated with this project (B. Diers, D. Wang, J. Orf, P. Chen, S. Kantartzi and S.R. Cianzio) are involved in soybean breeding efforts to improve genetic resistance to SDS. They are making crosses to develop new SDS-resistant germplasm populations, advancing experimental lines, conducting field evaluations in each state on replicated field tests, and evaluating advanced experimental lines in regional tests. The germplasm populations are also being used to develop molecular markers which can be used in soybean breeding programs to predict SDS resistance.