The soybean breeding and genetics project addresses the following target areas listed by the Nebraska Soybean Board for FY21:
(1) Genetic-based improvement in soybean yield potential (2) Use of new genes for soybean resistance to disease and insect pests.
(3) adjustment of soybean seed composition to enhance marketability.
We develop more than 30,000 new lines each year over all breeding
objectives, and those are evaluated and selected through multiple stages and years of testing. Major
objectives include improved yield and compositional quality, and improved resistance and tolerance to
stresses including IDC, drought, and multiple disease and insect pests. Germplasm from our breeding
program consistently ranks at the top of the USDA regional performance trials that are conducted
throughout the north central region in collaboration with other university and USDA programs. New
soybean cultivars are available to soybean producers and seed suppliers, and are also used as parents in
breeding programs at other USDA, university, and commercial programs throughout the US. Direct
commercialization of new lines also occurs through license agreements to companies and germplasm
suppliers. This is a continuing and long-term program. There is little modification to the planned program
for FY21, except for our new advances in identification and use of soybean lines and genes that control rate
of plant growth and development, and our breakthrough in seed composition and yield.

(1) Produce high-yielding soybean varieties well adapted to Nebraska production systems
(2) Develop germplasm and cultivars for use in specialty markets
(3) Produce germplasm and cultivars with improved compositional quality
(4) Evaluate and develop germplasm and cultivars that are resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses
important for Nebraska producers, such as iron deficiency chlorosis, soybean cyst nematode
(SCN), phytophthora root rot, soybean mosaic virus, bean pod mottle virus, and sudden death
syndrome (SDS).

1. Release at least one new soybean cultivar with superior yield in Nebraska production environments
2. Release at least one new soybean cultivar with superior yield and resistance to SCN, Phytophthora
root rot, IDC, SDS, or other biotic or abiotic stress
3. Develop at least one new line with improved seed compositional quality – higher seed protein
concentration, higher seed oil concentration, improved balance of protein, oil, and carbohydrates,
or other compositional quality traits.

This project benefits Nebraska soybean farmers directly by developing high-yield soybean cultivars specifically adapted to Nebraska production environments. The project also
benefits farmers by providing superior germplasm with improved yield, compositional quality, stress tolerance, or resistance to specific diseases that are used as parents in
commercial, university, and USDA programs in the US. In addition to the cultivar and germplasm development, the genetics and breeding research from this project helps educate
and train future plant breeders and provides valuable information to the soybean breeding research community to enhance our ability to develop superior soybean varieties for US
producers.
Nebraska soybean lines continue to top the USDA Uniform Regional Trials and SCN Regional Tests for our maturity groups.
Our lines U14-910097 and U14-925152 are MG2 lines with near immunity to SCN, with resistance sources coming from PI 88788 and PI 437654 (‘Hartwig’). Both lines also have
excellent phytophthora resistance. The U14-910097 line is used as a high-yield, SCN resistant check in the Uniform and SCN tests, and is the #1 line for the 2018-19 2-year
average in the SCN MG2 tests and the USDA Uniform MG2 tests. Our line U15-606207 continues to be the #1 line in the SCN MG3 test for 2018, 2019, and the 2018-19 2-year
average. U15-606207 also is highly resistant to SCN with PI 88788 and PI 437654 sources of resistance, along with excellent resistance to phytophthora root rot.
We have 7 of the top 10 lines in the Uniform USDA MG3 preliminary tests, we have the top 5 lines, and 8 of the top 10, in the MG2 USDA Uniform tests, the #1 line in the MG1
Uniform test for 2019, and the top 2 lines for the 2018-19 2-year average.
In addition to the conventional high-yield lines, we have significant progress and interest in our germplasm with increased seed protein concentration, high-oil lines, and lines with
improved balance of protein and oil. These materials also are being evaluated by interested parties.
Our program is producing consistent, high-yield lines that are well adapted to Nebraska -- yields here and at one or more Illinois locations exceeded 100 bu for many lines -- and
are well adapted across the north central USA. These and other top lines have been distributed to companies and university programs for crossing and for commercialization.