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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Research Project #441922

Research Project: Increasing Genetic Diversity, Yield, and Protein of US Commercial Soybean Germplasm

Location: Plant Genetics Research

Project Number: 5070-21000-044-020-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Oct 1, 2021
End Date: Jan 28, 2023

Objective:
Develop and release experimental lines and varieties that are higher in protein concentration and higher in yield than current varieties.

Approach:
To increase yield and protein simultaneously requires a more productive plant. Our unique genetic diversity for high yield provides us with the genetic capacity to increase both to an extent not possible with the conventional gene pool. We can do this by targeting our breeding populations derived from exotic germplasm with higher protein concentration, crossing our highest yielding experimental lines with germplasm with higher protein concentration, and analyzing more of our experimental lines earlier in the testing process for composition then we have done in the past.