Project Number: 6402-21220-010-10
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Apr 01, 2009
End Date: Mar 31, 2012

Objective:
(1) Screen soybean lines for resistance to Phomopsis Seed Decay (PSD). (2) Breed high-yielding resistant cultivars and germplasm lines for North Central and Southern U.S. soybean production regions by incorporating new resistance genes and alleles. (3) Develop new and rapid screening tools that are correlated with the field screening method for the measurement of plant resistance.

Approach:
Phomopsis seed decay (PSD) of soybean is a major cause of poor quality and poor germination of soybean seeds in the United States, especially in the mid-southern U.S. This research will be focus on two sides of the disease equation: 1) screening untapped (not yet tested for PSD resistance) 123 MG 3-5 germplasm lines collected from 28 countries, and 2) breeding lines and cultivars from southern U.S. with resistance to PSD. This research will provide tools and potential new resistance genes to increase breeding efficiency for high-yield PSD resistant lines.