This research project will focus on mapping genes that are responsible for increasing soybean yield stability. These genomic regions, or QTL, are termed variance QTL (vQTL). We will set up an association analysis panel of elite Nebraska soybean cultivars and experimental lines that vary for the amount of yield stability across diverse environments. These lines will be tested across multiple years and genotyped with a high density of SNPs to perform an association analysis to detect yield vQTL. In addition we will work with current breeding populations within the Nebraska soybean breeding program to detect vQTL and to develop methods to enrich into selected lines these vQTL for increased yield stability through marker assisted selection or through genomic selection.