• 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. Plant introductions (PIs) from GRIN and advanced breeding lines will be screened for CLB and resistant lines will be used a source for future research. A total of 580 PIs will be screened and used for association mapping for CLB and those PIs have 50K SNP chip data available. Interaction between CLB and purple seed stain (PSS) will be studied using advanced breeding lines as well as PIs. 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. Breeders will work closely with plant pathologists to observe if reactions to CLB vary and observe possible isolate variations.
• 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 and disease resistance and to use marker assisted selection (MAS) to pyramid beneficial genes into current high-yielding adapted 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. Development of recombinant inbred lines (RIL) for mapping CLB and FLS resistance and selection within advanced breeding populations for resistance is expected by the end of 2017. Confirmation of QTL/markers for CLB and FLS resistance and regional evaluation of breeding lines for resistance and yield is expected in 2019.
• By the end of the 2016 growing season, preliminary mechanisms of resistance to stink bugs were identified and shared with the target audience. By the end of the 2018 growing season, specific mechanisms of resistance to stink bugs will be identified.
• The benefits of using stink bug and disease 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.