2020
Continuation of Off-season Winter Nursery in Puerto Rico for Soybean Breeding
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomics
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Ben Fallen, USDA/ARS-North Carolina State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
20-073
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
$20,000
Institution Funded:
North Carolina State University
$20,000
Brief Project Summary:

This project is a continuation of winter nursery support begun in 1990. The winter nursery is a vital link in breeding activities, because it reduces the time required for development of a variety or new germplasm by two to three years. This permits timely release of new varieties and germplasm. Rapid development of these materials also increases impact on the private sector as they develop new GMO varieties.

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

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Final Project Results

The most valuable real estate in North Carolina’s USDA soybean breeding program at NCSU is in Puerto Rico. Our USDA winter nursery plots there, though only about 5 acres as compared to more than 100 acres grown on NCSU and NCDA research stations, is indispensable because of its frostfree winter, allowing us to grow two crops per year instead of one. This offseason nursery greatly speeds our soybean variety development. All of the varieties we release for NC have an important stop in Puerto Rico, as they make their way to the farmer’s field. The soybean varieties NC-Miller, NC-Roy, NC-Raleigh, N8101, N7002, N7003CN, N8001, N8002, USDA-N6001, USDA-N6002, USDA-N6003, USDA-N6004, USDA-N6005, USDA-N7004, USDA-N7005 each was released at least three years earlier than would be possible without this winter nursery.

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.