Objective 1: Evaluate lines developed in maturity groups III through V in Kansas and throughout the US to identify progeny with superior or unique combinations of traits. Lines with the potential for commercialization with genetically modified traits will be improved through backcrossing specific traits, such as herbicide resistance. We have licensing mechanisms in place to incorporate RR1 and RR2Y into our material.
Objective 2: Transgenic events developed under the KSC funded project “Enhancement of Soybean through Genetic Engineering” will be incorporated into Kansas elite lines through backcross breeding or directly transformed into specific cultivars. For example, we have identified events from three potential SCN resistance genes which have significant reductions in SCN eggs when compared to controls. These genes will be backcrossed into Kansas adapted germplasm. Traits to be transferred may include SCN resistance, antifungal resistance genes and potential drought tolerance genes. Effective transgenes will be stacked to enhance their deployment potential.
Objective 3: Evaluate genotypes for response to drought and heat tolerance. In addition to measuring yield, maturity, lodging and height, the plots will be monitored for pollen viability, antioxidants in the leaf tissue, membrane damage, canopy temperature, and leaf chlorophyll levels. Remote sensing techniques will be used to gain valuable insight into the physiological aspect of seed yield in soybean and improve selection efficiency.
Objective 4: Continue to monitor the amount of variation displayed by SCN populations in Kansas, particularly regarding virulence on PI 88788. Populations collected from the recent SCN survey are being increased in the greenhouse and will be used to inoculate standardized tests to determine HG Type (Niblack et al. 2002). In addition to standard differential lines, representative commercial varieties will be included in all tests to ensure that information about the virulence patterns is broadly applicable. Virulence characterization of SCN populations also will include any variability in nematode response to potential transgenes.