Location: Crop Genetics Research
Project Number: 6066-21220-016-032-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2025
End Date: Oct 30, 2026
Objective:
Both parties desire to participate in the Uniform Soybean Tests – Southern States and Northern States (collectively, Uniform Tests). The Uniform Tests is a cooperative testing program that is the main mechanism for U.S. public soybean breeders to obtain multi-state field data to support the release of varieties and germplasm. The varieties released are grown by farmers, and the released germplasm is used by private and public breeders to produce varieties that are grown by farmers. To achieve this goal public soybean breeders need multi-location multi-year data to support the release of lines. Private seed company breeders need data to select public lines to be licensed for sale to farmers and/or used in their breeding programs. The Uniform Soybean Tests provide objective data on yield, agronomics, seed composition (protein, oil, fatty acids and oligosaccharides [sugars]), pest reaction and disease reaction to facilitate these decisions. This will provide high yield, higher protein soybean varieties for U.S. soybean farmers that directly increases their profitability. The specific objective of this project is to evaluate selected lines and cultivars submitted to the Uniform Soybean Tests, Southern States, against three populations of root-knot nematodes.
Approach:
Cooperator will analyze seeds of approximately 100 soybean lines entered in the 2026 Uniform Test program to the Cooperator. The Cooperator will use these seeds to establish greenhouse tests to evaluate the reaction of these lines to three different populations of root-knot nematodes. Root galling will be scored, and egg counts will be completed. The data and rating of each line will be returned to the agency for inclusion in the annual report for the Uniform Test program. The data and results will be shared with program participants to inform decisions about which line(s)to include in further testing and development efforts in their respective breeding programs. Milestone: Report results by the next December following receipt of seed. Our goal is to increase soybean value for the entire value chain by selection of soybean with consistent higher levels of protein and excellent yield that will aid in the development of commercial soybean lines with an improved nutritional bundle. This supports the Secretary of Agriculture's priority to increase profitability of farmers.