Useful information concerning varietal resistance to multiple diseases will be generated for utilization by producers. An annual report detailing results from the regional uniform variety trial will be provided in a timely manner to stakeholders in each state through a variety of media to aid in planting decisions (extension bulletins, newsletters, email, blogs, professional meetings, field days, cross-referenced variety selection tool on individual states’ websites, etc…).

In the short term, important disease resistance data will be generated for new plant introductions (breeding stock) and selections to serve as a guide for breeder selections and longer term goals.

Breeding efforts are expected to identify resistance to Cercospora leaf blight in the short term. Identification of QTL/markers for CLB and FLS and the development and release of high yielding germplasm lines /cultivars resistant to CLB and FLS are expected in the long term.

The key outcome will be high yielding, locally adapted soybean cultivars that are resistant to both stink bugs and diseases. In addition, a set of germplasm will be created to easily incorporate resistance into new cultivars.

Once resistance has been identified, our future approach will be to identify and map markers contributing to stink bug resistance and to use marker assisted selection (MAS) to pyramid beneficial genes into current cultivars. By using MAS, it is possible to quickly screen large quantities of plant materials and remove progeny lacking the marker prior to testing for phenotypic response.

The benefits of using stink bug resistant varieties will be promoted directly to growers during field days and on-farm demonstrations. Results and pertinent project updates will be reported to the entire mid-south soybean industry in appropriate participating statewide media. For example, in Louisiana it would be the Louisiana Agriculture Magazine, the official publication of the Louisiana State University AgCenter; the Louisiana Soybean & Feed Grain Review, and at commodity and professional meetings, e.g., Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board Annual Meeting, and the annual branch and national meetings of the Entomological Society of America.