Project Number: 6645-21220-008-20
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: May 01, 2005
End Date: Apr 30, 2008

Objective:
To yield test new drought-tolerant soybean breeding lines in collaboration with industry; yield test and screen maturity group (MG) 0 to IV Midwestern US breeding lines, and Chinese Plant Introductions (PI) for drought tolerance. Define the mechanistic basis(es) for slow wilting and associate with specific QTLs; discover and confirm unique drought tolerant genes by use of DNA markers to determine, in field trials, the value of drought tolerant nitrogen fixation from Jackson and the utility of using marker assisted selection in improving drought tolerance. Combine drought tolerant nitrogen fixation with traits conferring delayed wilting and superior rooting and to evaluate the yield potential of this material under drought.

Approach:
The program is national in scope, with Midwestern and Southern researchers working together to develop drought tolerant soybean. Earlier phases of USB drought research identified important drought-tolerant traits and began applying them to practical breeding. The current project brings "on line" several new techniques and materials including 1)DNA marker system known as SSR, 2)recent discoveries of rare sources of drought tolerance from Asia, and 3)new techniques for identifying enhanced N fixation drought stress.