2018
Breeding of Improved Non-GMO Cultivars and Germplasm
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomics
Lead Principal Investigator:
Ted Helms, North Dakota State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
QSSB
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

The application of dicamba on Xtend soybean varieties promises to provide a new method of controlling glyphosate-resistant weeds. However, NDSU weed scientists have already stated that dicamba-resistant Kochia is common in North Dakota. Due to the increase in glyphosate-resistant weeds, such as Kochia, Waterhemp, ragweed, and the predicted increase in dicamba-resistant Kochia, many growers must apply additional herbicides to their fields when they choose to grow GMO soybean varieties. Application of these expensive herbicides, plus the additional purchase of expensive Xtend seed has greatly increased production costs. Growers need to have the option of growing non-GMO varieties to save input...

Unique Keywords:
#breeding & genetics, #conventional soybean, #non-gmo, #soybean breeding
Information And Results
Project Deliverables

New experimental lines will be developed and tested. Experimental lines will be evaluated for phytophthora root rot resistance and SCN resistance. Yield testing is a multiple-year process. Experimental lines will be selected for lodging resistance and suitable maturity. Tofu and natto types will be evaluated for food quality traits. The most advanced lines will undergo a seed purification and multiplication process so that seed will be ready when a line is released as a named cultivar.

Final Project Results

Updated July 3, 2018:

View uploaded report Word file

July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018 Annual Report: Breeding of Improved Non-GMO Cultivars and Germplasm

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ted Helms, Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University – Cooperating Scientists: Dr. Berlin Nelson, Department of Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University

This research had four broad objectives which included: i) to increase yield on IDC-prone soils and increase profit on those problem soils; ii) to enable private companies and growers to compare yield of SCN-resistant cultivars on sites that are infested with SCN; iii) provide soybean growers in North Dakota with cultivars which are genetically superior to cultivars that are currently grown; iv) collection of grain samples from the Variety Fee Tests and reporting the protein and oil data in the NDSU Soybean Performance bulletin

Growers benefit when varieties from different companies are compared at the same field sites because this enables growers to increase yield on fields that have soil or pest problems. In 2017, yield data was collected on 40 private company Xtend and RR2 varieties at three sites that had IDC symptoms. Averaged across the Hunter, Leonard, and Colfax, ND locations for 2017, the range of yield varied from a low of 14.3 bu/A for an IDC susceptible company variety to a high of 32.0 bu/A for an IDC tolerant company variety.

In 2017, four sites that were infested with Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) were planted with 40 Xtend and RR2 company varieties to test for SCN resistance. Yield varied from a low of 32.8 to a high of 54.4 bu/acre. An additional experiment was planted to evaluate 14 Liberty Link and non-GMO cultivars at four sites that were infested with SCN. The four SCN-infested soil test sites included Absaraka, Colfax, Galesburg, and Prosper, ND. This data was published in the ‘North Dakota Soybean Performance Bulletin (A-843) and also online.

In 2017, grain samples for protein and oil analyses were collected for all company varieties entered in the LaMoure, Northwood, Grandin, Arthur, Fairmount, and Walcott, ND testing sites. These samples were analyzed and the data was reported in the North Dakota Soybean Performance Bulletin (A-843).

A new variety ‘ND Stutsman’ was released in January of 2017. ND Stutsman is a non-GMO variety with high yield, good IDC tolerance, resistance to lodging, and resistance to race 3 of phytophthora root rot. A second new variety, ‘ND Benson’ was released in January of 2017. ND Benson is a non-GMO variety with good yield, good IDC tolerance, resistance to lodging, resistance to races 3 & 4 of phytophthora root rot, and excellent SCN resistance.

The NDSU breeding program provides growers with the option of growing non-GMO varieties. Growers have the option of purchasing non-GMO varieties that have been developed by North Dakota State University without paying a ‘technology fee’ and can then save their own seed. Past success by NDSU in the development of non-GMO varieties for the oilseed market includes ‘ND Henson’, ‘ND Stutsman’ and ‘ND Benson’. The non-GMO varieties developed by NDSU provide growers with an alternative to the use of glyphosate and permit different herbicides to be rotated in soybean fields across different years.

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.