Project Number: 6645-21000-026-38
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Apr 22, 2008
End Date: Feb 28, 2009

Objective:
1. Develop lines in maturity groups 00-I with increased protein and/or low phytate and improved amino acid composition. 2. Determine the environmental stability of lines with improved protein composition. 3. Release environmentally stable varieties or germplasm with improved protein composition.

Approach:
Make crosses with elite maturity group 00-I public breeding lines and unrestricted publicly available lines with higher protein, lower phytate (from USDA-Purdue) and altered amino acid composition. Advance crosses as rapidly as possible using growth chambers, greenhouses and winter nurseries. Analyze seed from individual plants and lines and select and advance appropriate material. Evaluate selected lines in adapted areas for yielding ability, susceptibility to disease and other agronomic traits. Identify superior lines and increase the seed supply for release as germplasm or cultivars. Grow breeding lines with the various altered protein, phytate and amino acid combinations at several locations for three years to assess the genotype by environment interactions and investigate environmental temperature associations with seed composition. Analyze seed using near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy with equations developed at Minnesota. Determine the relative environmental stability of lines with improved protein, phytate and amino acid compositions.