Updated April 29, 2020:
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Although we are currently unable to identify specific genes controlling these traits, we can use this information to develop new plant material and experiments to eventually understand the genetic architecture of these traits.
We also evaluated the relationship (phenotypic correlation) between all of the traits we measured in this experiment including the unique branching trait, seed protein and oil, seed yield, lodging, plant height, and maturity. Surprisingly, we found no correlation between the unique branching pattern and seed yield. This indicates that selecting for this trait, as we have identified and measured it, as a means to increase yield potential will likely not be effective in a breeding program. We were successful in finding positive correlations between the unique branching trait and plant height, maturity, and lodging. These results suggest that the unique branching trait is much more complex than we originally thought, and arises from numerous genetic and environmental factors that contribute to this unique branching pattern in the population we evaluated.