2022
Improving water use efficacy in soybean
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Nebraska Soybean Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomics
Parent Project:
Improving Water Use Efficacy in Soybean
Lead Principal Investigator:
Katarzyna Glowacka, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
705
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Nebraska Soybean Board
$43,166
Institution Funded:
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
$43,166
Brief Project Summary:

The ultimate goal of the project is to generate soybean germplasm with superior water use efficiency that will conserve soil moisture and improve productivity if the crop becomes water limited. Most of the water taken up by plant roots is lost via transpiration from small pores in leaves named stomata. However, to capture atmospheric CO2 which is essential for photosynthesis, stomatal pores need to stay open. In this project, we propose to modify stomatal opening in a smart way which will allow to limit the water loss under water-limited conditions with minimal effect on photosynthesis and stomatal behavior under well-watered conditions. We will achieve this by modifying the light-derived...

Unique Keywords:
#breeding & genetics
Information And Results
Project Deliverables

FY21: KPI (1) Generation of soybean customized constructs to overexpress PsbS under drought conditions; the first quarter (delivered). KPI (2) Generation of TO transgenics; the third quarter (initiated). KPI (3) The propagation of TO to T2 seeds, along with segregation for homozygosity and functionality of the introduced T-DNA; the fourth quarter and if needed will be continued in the first quarter of FY22. FY22 and FY23: KPI (4) Evaluation of T2 lines for drought-inducible overexpression of PsbS and water savings under drought conditions in greenhouse settings; the second quarter of FY22. KPI (5) The physiological, molecular, and growth characterization of selected T2 lines under controlled and drought conditions in greenhouse settings; the third quarter of FY22. KPI (6) The characterization of transgenics in the field; the third and the fourth quarters of FY22 and FY23.

This project will have significantly positive impact to soybean farmers by leading to new soybean variety which can diminish the 4O% lost in soybean yield which is annually caused by drought.

The results will be published in an academic journal and in public formats, including UNL websites and local news, to disseminate the water-saving advantages of the generated soybean lines to the public.

Final Project Results

Updated May 25, 2023:

View uploaded report PDF file

The preliminary results collected this year in the greenhouse and field suggest that by increasing the amount of soybean PsbS protein under the combination of drought, heat and high light conditions the growth and yield can be improved. That finding can have a huge impact on soybean production in Nebraska since only about half of the fields of soybean in the state are irrigated and severe drought is one of the main reasons for yield diminish.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.