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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research » Research » Research Project #439460

Research Project: Determining the Repercussions of Declining Test Weight on Seed Composition & Value (MO)

Location: Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research

Project Number: 6070-21220-069-094-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Oct 1, 2020
End Date: Sep 30, 2021

Objective:
Identify management and genetic factors that can reverse the decline in test weight, determine the impact of increased test weight on seed protein content, nutritional quality, market value, sucrose content and develop breeding strategies which will simultaneously incorporate improved test weight and protein content into high yielding varieties.

Approach:
In 2020, 25 soybean lines along with 3 commercial cultivars will be planted at two different planting dates with 4 weeks apart in 12’ 4-row plots in three replications. The soybean lines will include previously and newly released varieties and current elite breeding lines of MG 4 and 5, with varying content protein and oil content and seed size. Two testing sites will be employed that have contrasting soil types. Agronomic data that include plant height, maturity, pubescence and yield will be recorded. Harvested seed samples will be evaluated for test weight, moisture, seed size, seed quality and the fatty acid, protein, oil and amino acid content. The collected data will be analyzed to assess the relationship between test weight and other agronomic traits and seed composition traits. Attempts will be made to make new crosses between elite breeding lines with lines having high test weight. If crosses are done, F1 seed will be sent to winter nurseries in Costa Rica for generation advance.