2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): Increase protein contents, improve amino acid profile, and decrease phytate in MG-II to IV by incorporating appropriate genes from diverse sources of soybean lines. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): The objective will be achieved by making crosses with high-protein, low phytate sources from other state cooperators to elite soybean lines and improved high-protein breeding lines from northeastern USA. The breeding lines will be advanced and tested against appropriate checks. High performing lines will be released as germplasm or cultivars with the target traits. Conventional and molecular assisted breeding will be used. NIR protocols will be used for amino acid profiling of advanced breeding lines and finished germplasm. 3.Progress Report: Forty advanced breeding lines from crosses of two food-grade high-yielding Ohio cultivars -Wyandot (MG-II) and FG05 - with GASF-114 (from researchers at University of Georgia, Athens) with >44% protein (DW) and yields comparable to the Ohio checks were selected based on yield trial in 2010. These lines have been planted in replicated trial at 3 locations in Ohio and all have good emergence. 200 yield plots for advance lines with >44% protein based on yield data comparable to the Ohio check cultivars in 2010 plant rows have been planted in 2011 and emergence were good for all lines. More than 10000 F3, F4, and F4 seeds were produced in Puerto Rico though single seed descent (SSD) from 15 crosses with high protein (>46%) parents from other states to Ohio cultivars were received in May and planted in Ohio in June. We received good seeds in general from Puerto Rico and expect good emergence. These crosses were made during 2008-2010. We have planted parental lines to make 5 more cross combinations during the summer of 2011. The yield plots from 3 locations in Ohio (4 replicates each) for the multi-location yield trial were harvested and all locations had good crops. The yield and protein/oil data were analyzed and several high-yield and high-protein (44-45%) were identified. Six lines have been entered in the quality trait regional test in 2012. All fields were planted (in Ohio and elsewhere). The soybean growing conditions in Ohio have been unusually dry so far this year. The amino acids on high protein-lines were determined by Near Infra Red (NIR) technology locally using ground soybean samples. We have sent 20 lines to researchers at the University of Tennessee to compare the results we have obtained from NIR in Wooster. Progress: we have planted parental lines for making three cross combinations of high-protein breeding lines from Ohio to the low phytate from University of Tennessee. More crosses to develop low phytate lines will be made this summer. This project relates to and expands on objective 4 (Develop soybean germplasm with high seed-protein content) of the parent project.