2020
Water Use Efficient Soybeans for South Carolina
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Contributor/Checkoff:
South Carolina Soybean Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomics
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Sruthi Kutty, Clemson University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Clemson University
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
South Carolina Soybean Board
$7,500
Leveraged Funding (Non-Checkoff):
None
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Institution Funded:
Clemson University
$7,500
Brief Project Summary:

Water use efficiency, the amount of biomass produced per unit water used, that results in greater yield per unit rainfall is an important parameter in determining crop yields in rainfed production systems, and is often related with crop tolerance to water stress. However, currently no varieties in South Carolina exhibit increased WUE. Since root distribution and architecture are critical in optimizing water absorption, a novel root system architecture could exist that optimizes plant WUE in regional soils that even contain a hardpan. The objectives of this project are to identify water use efficient soybean genotypes that perform well and to identify the root system architecture that improves WUE of soybean in these soils.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents, soybean breeders, seed companies

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

1. New information on existing soybean varieties: The genotypes that will be tested for WUE in this research includes existing varieties. If they turn out to be the best genotypes for greater WUE in SC soils with or without hardpan, producers can choose them for their land for effective water use. This is a deliverable with immediate impact.
2. New knowledge on WUE, physiological traits associated with productivity (photosynthesis, chlorophyll index, and chlorophyll fluorescence), and root traits that contribute to greater WUE and yield in soils with or without hardpan will be generated for soybean breeding lines, germplasm lines, and existing varieties. This will help breeding programs as they could include some of the identified genotypes in their variety development programs or utilize the identified plant traits as selection criteria for choosing genotypes for such programs.
3. Model: A model of the ideal root system architecture that increases soybean WUE and yield will be generated, which will be valuable for soybean breeding and variety development.
4. Reports: Quarterly and final progress reports throughout 2020-2021 by the due dates the SC Soybean Board provides. Publication of research results as an extension article or a scientific manuscript by the end of 2021.

Final Project Results

Updated January 27, 2021:

View uploaded report Word file

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.