2024
High yielding, non-nodulating isolines as a tool for improving soybean meal protein concentration
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Contributor/Checkoff:
United Soybean Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
AgricultureFertilizerFertilizer/plant nutrientGeneticsNitrogen fixationSustainability
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Caio Canella Vieira, University of Arkansas
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
24-209-S-D-4-A
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
United Soybean Board
$80,824
Institution Funded:
University of Arkansas
$80,824
Brief Project Summary:
Evaluation methods of nitrogen fixation depend upon a non-nodulating reference crop that ideally should be of similar yield potential as the soybean genotypes being assessed. The continuation of this project will evaluate isoline pairs for yield and agronomic traits in field experiments with and without high rates of nitrogen fertilizer.
Information And Results
Project Summary

Project Objectives

Project Deliverables

Progress Of Work

Final Project Results

Over 20 pairs of nodulating (nod+) and non-nodulating (nod-) isolines, derived from elite glyphosate-resistant parents and spanning maturity groups 0 through VIII, underwent yield evaluation across various environments in 2024. Isolines received two nitrogen applications of 150 lbs N/acre, one between the V4-V6 growth stages and another between R2-R4. Numerous homozygous plants consisting of nod- and nod+ NILs were grown as plant rows in 2024 and will be evaluated in yield trials in 2025. Some isoline pairs have been transferred to research groups to conduct additional research.

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

The average protein concentration of soybean grain has decreased at an annual rate of 0.79 mg/g over the past 20 years, threatening the value of the commodity. Because protein production requires large amounts of nitrogen, management and genetic strategies to reverse the decline in protein concentration require accurate methods to quantify the contributions of both nitrogen fixation and soil mineral nitrogen to the nutrition of the crop. These measurements require the use of non-nodulating genotypes that are of similar MG to nodulating cultivars being grown by farmers that also have similar yields when provided with adequate nitrogen fertilizer. Currently, there are no non-nodulating genotypes in any MG that are comparable to high-yielding cultivars grown today. The outcome of the proposed research will provide nodulating and non-nodulating near-isoline pairs with glyphosate tolerance in all the MGs grown in the US (0-8) that are high-yielding and that will be invaluable in identifying factors limiting grain protein concentration.

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.