2011 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Develop early maturity (RM<95 days) germplasm with value added-traits (VAT) utilizing exotic sources originating from the GEM Project. VAT's include composition for protein, oil, and starch. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Top crosses will be evaluated for performance in early maturity environments of North Dakota. Lines will be selected based on a benchmark for yield and moisture of 101%, and 95-100% respectively. The selected lines will be studied for VAT's. Three stiff-stalk, and six non-stiff stalk populations will be advanced and further selected in the nursery for future development. 3.Progress Report This project relates to the primary objectives of the parent project which includes the development and evaluation of very early maturity germplasm (90 days relative maturity) with key value-added traits. These traits include protein, oil, and starch composition, and fermentable ethanol. Early maturity germplasm is deficient in genetic diversity, and the long term impact of this project can potentially broaden the germplasm for the northern US Corn Belt region. Further development work continued in six GEM populations; CUBA117:S1520-388, DKB844:S1601-507, BR52051:N04-70, SCRO1:N1310-265, FS8B(T):N1802-35, and CH05015:N12-123. Lines were selected from these families and evaluated in test crosses over two years. Results from fall 2010 indicated that lines derived from BR52051 produced hybrids with low moisture and similar yield as commercial checks. Lines developed from CH05015, CUBA117, and FS8B(T) had high grain protein and/or oil. Further testing is being conducted in 2011 with yield trials planted in up to 24 locations. The nursery in Fargo, ND was planted in May 2011, and new advanced EarlyGEM lines including ND2012, ND2014, and ND2015 were sent to cooperators for further testing. Three new maize population hybrids, [NDSM(M-FS)C9 Syn2]Syn2 x EARLYGEM 21b Syn2, NDSS Syn 2 x EARLYGEM 21a Syn 2, and BS21(R-T)C9 Syn 2 x EARLYGEM 21a Syn 2, with good yield and better protein quality including lysine, methionine, and cysteine are being further developed. Two of the most outstanding populations developed are now part of an extensive recurrent program in 2011 and include North Dakota Stiff Stalk Synthetic (NDSS) and EarlyGEM 21. Monitoring activities include reviewing progress reports submitted by the Cooperator in July and in December for the Annual GEM Cooperator Meeting. E-mail correspondence is done on a regular basis during the growing season.