Incorporate new sources of flood tolerance identified into our current breeding program in attempt to combine high yield potential with high levels of flood tolerance. We will also use lines derived from flood tolerant sources in AR and MO as bridge material in the next cycle of breeding for flood tolerance and high yield. This is achieved through our cyclic breeding scheme: making different crosses, growing and identifying hybrids, advancing segregating populations via bulk pod method with mass selection for three generations (F2-F4), selecting desired individual plants, evaluating progeny rows and selecting pure lines, and testing selected lines in preliminary and advanced trials for flood tolerance and yield potential.

The preliminary screen of current commercial cultivars and collected germplasm was conducted in the past three years in AR and MO. Lines with extreme response to flooding have been identified and will be re-evaluated in this project at multi-locations in AR, MO, MS, LA, and TX.

We will also test new cultivars that are placed in the state variety testing program. The cross-breeding program is an on-going cyclic process where new populations are initiated each year while lines derived from crosses made 4-5 seasons earlier are in their final stages of evaluation. We have new crosses, plant populations, progeny rows, preliminary and advanced lines for testing and selection on going simultaneously at all breeding stages each year.