North Central Soybean Research Program

“Presented to the board at the meeting held on december 6, 2016”

“Annually the board is required to disclose conflicting interests. Board members are required to recuse themselves from any vote if there is a conflict.”

“Governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements are available to the public upon request.”

“(1) Project Title: Breeding to improve resistance to SDS in soybean as a means to protect yield Delivering resistant varieties and linesPrincipal Investigador: Silvia R. Cianzio, Co-Pis: B. Diers, J. Orf. D. Wang, P. Chen, S. Kantartzi, G. Hartmann, J. Bond Budget Amount: $171,312 Year: 2015-2016Brief Statement of Objectives: Breeding high yield SDS-resistant soybean cultivars in Maturity Groups I to VI for farmers, and seed industry. Objectives that support Objective 1: 1) Identify new sources of resistance to SDS; 2) Evaluation of SDS-field resistance of public experimental linesBackground information. An ideal production approach for managing sudden death syndrome (SDS) is the planting of resistant cultivars. Development of soybean resistant cultivars is difficult and time consuming, since SDS genetic resistance is determined by numerous genes, each and every one interacting with the production environment. The number of SDS-resistant cultivars is presently limited. A group of soybean breeders already working on developing SDS resistant germplasm at different institutions was brought together to this project. (2)Project Title: Acceleration of Soybean Yield and Composition Improvement through Genomic SelectionPrinciple Investigator and Co-PIs: Brian Diers, Matt Hudson, Pat Brown, Randall Nelson, Katy Martin Rainey, Bill Beavis, Asheesh Singh, George Graef, Jim Specht, and Aaron LorenzBudget Amount and Project Year: Year , $315,642Brief Statement of Objectives:The overall objective of this project is to use results from the large, USB funded SoyNAM project to predict the performance of new experimental lines and to test whether these predictions result in the selection of better lines than traditional breeding methods. If these new methods are successful, this will increase the rate of genetic gain in breeding programs. Below are the specific project objectives. The first objective is to test genomic selection in breeding populations. This first step is to use the dataset from the SoyNAM project to optimize methods for using genetic markers to predict yield, protein concentration, and maturity of soybean lines (this is called genomic prediction and when plants or lines are selected with this method, it is call genomic selection). In this objective, predictions for the traits can be made and compared to trait data that is available. The second step is to conduct a breeding experiment using the optimized genomic selection approaches in populations of breeding lines developed by each cooperating breeder. Within each population, lines selected using genomic selection and traditional approaches will be compared to determine which method was the most successful. The second objective is to use of genomic data to decide what cross combinations should be made by breeders. We will develop methods for selecting specific combinations of parents for crossing in soybean breeding nurseries. Once these methods are developed, they will be used by breeders to help them decide what cross combinations to make(3)Project Title: Increasing profits through genetic resistance to SDSPrinciple Investigator and Co-PIs: Brian Diers, Osman Radwan, Glen Hartman, Jason Bond, James Orf, Dechun Wang Budget Amount and Project Year: Year 3 Total budget $162,545Brief Statement of Objectives:The overall objective of this research is to increase profits through improving yields with genetic resistance to SDS. The specific objectives of the project are:Objective 1. Map locations on chromosomes of genes that confer resistance to SDS. This mapping is being done in Minnesota and Michigan using two genetic populations in each state.Objective 2. Confirm and deploy SDS resistance genes. This is being done to determine if previously mapped genes are useful in different genetic backgrounds and environments.Objective 3. Identify genes involved in SDS resistance by gene expression profiling soybean roots and leaves. To complete this work, the level of gene expression was est”

“(11)Project Title: Engineered resistance to soybean cyst nematode via induced gene silencing (RNAi)Principle Investigator and Co-PIs: Harold Trick (Project Leader), Tim Todd and Jiarui Li (Kansas State University), John Finer (The Ohio State University), Wayne Parrott (University of Georgia) and Lila Vodkin and Jack Widholm (University of Illinois); Budget Amount and Project Year: $136,177 Year 4Brief Statement of Objectives: The primary goal of this research project is to establish a new set of biotech traits that have durable resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Turning off genes by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi) has tremendous potential as a new strategy to increase nematode resistance. Past research with other nematode species has demonstrated the scientific merit of the technique. This project will investigate the opportunities to insert target gene sequences in the SCN that will provide durable genetic materials that will be lethal to SCN populations.The specific objectives of this project are to:Complete the production of stable transgenic soybean plants with traits that can silence specific nematode genes Perform bioassays with the engineered plants to confirm effectiveness of the SCN resistance; and Examine the durability of traits on single and diverse populations of SCN.Brief Statement of Expected Deliverables: It is anticipated this research will result in stable transgenic soybean lines expressing the RNAi constructions and that events with increased levels of SCN resistance will be identified. By the end of the funding cycle we intend to identify specific lines that have broad levels of resistance to several populations or HG types of soybean cyst nematodes. (12)Project Title: Disease Study Group: Focus on New and Emerging Soybean DiseasesPrinciple Investigator and Co-PIs: Kiersten Wise, Purdue University and Daren Mueller, Iowa State University, Loren Giesler, University of Nebraska, Carl Bradley, University of Illinois, Martin Chilvers, Michigan State University, Albert Tenuta, OMAFRA; Project contributor (no-cost): Damon Smith, University of WisconsinBudget Amount and Project Year: Project period 03/01/13 to 02/28/16; Year 2 of 3Total funding: $42,250 Year 3Brief Statement of Objectives:This project directly benefits soybean farmers in the North Central region by providing current and timely Extension material to aid in the identification and management of emerging diseases, and diseases lacking Extension information. The project improves awareness and stakeholder knowledge of emerging diseases using traditional mechanisms such as fact sheets and bulletins, as well as new technologies such as web-based videos and web content that are downloadable and viewable through new technology such as smartphones and tablet devices.Project objectives: 1. Provide information on emerging soybean diseases at multiple levels of Extension interface (print, web, video, etc.) to reach diverse groups of stakeholders.2. Create a platform to host and brand Extension material developed in conjunction with the North Central Soybean Research Program to facilitate updates and allow users to identify trusted sources of material through this branding partnership.3. Provide current research summaries on emerging diseases to direct and coordinate future research priorities thereby minimizing duplication, maximizing resources and increasing response time.(13)Project Title: Understanding the role of fungicide programs on soybean health and charcoal rot developmentPrinciple Investigator and Co-PIs: Kiersten Wise, Purdue University and Daren Mueller, Iowa State University, Emmanuel Byamukama, South Dakota State University, Martin Chilvers, Michigan State University, Chris Little and Doug Jardine, Kansas State University, Damon Smith, University of WisconsinBudget Amount and Project Year: $62,000 Year 2Brief Statement of Objectives:Charcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, is a disease of growing importance in the North”

“(16)PROJECT TITLE: Benchmarking soybean production systems in the North-Central Principal Investigators:Dr Patricio Grassini (Principal Co-Investigator)Dr. Shawn P. Conley (Principal Co-InvestigatorBudget Amount and Project Year: $433,081 Year 1PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND RATIONALESoybean production is expected to increase to satisfy the increasing demand for food, biodiesel, and livestock feed, both in the USA and globally. Thus, it is crucial to reduce the yield gap, which is the difference between the attainable crop yield, as determined by the interactive effects of weather, soils, and genetics, and the actual crop yield attained by a producer. The North Central USA region includes these states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The 12 states combined produce 2,719 million bushels annually on 63 million harvested acres during 2010-2014, representing a respective 82 and 81% of total U.S. soybean production and acreage (USDA-NASS). Average soybean yield in the NC-USA region during 2010-2014 was 43 bushels/acre, yet some producers can consistently attain soybean yields near or greater than 80 bushels/acre (Specht et al., 1999, Grassini et al., 2014, VanRoekel and Purcell, 2014). This large gap between an average state yield and the very high yield obtained by some producers in that state needs to be explored and better understood. This project is targeted at identifying the factors - whether these are site-specific soil or weather conditions, or are less than optimal crop management practices - that prevent most producers from attaining yields closer to the high yields attained by other producers. Once those factors are identified, both the producer and his/her university research/extension specialist can focus on how to close the yield gap for that individual producer (and others like him or her).The most common approach to identify yield-limiting factors in producer fields involves conducting on-farm trials, in which researchers selectively apply different input levels or management practices in experimental trials conducted in multiple producer fields (e.g., Villamil et al., 2012), and then evaluate whether a particular input or management practice is statistically significant in improving yield, and of course, whether the degree of yield improvement justifies the cost of the input. An example of this approach is the USB-funded kitchen sink project that was just completed. An alternative method is the use of producer self-reported field yield and associated crop management practice data (e.g., Grassini et al., 2011, 2015). This approach can be used to (1) evaluate current on-farm management relative to recommended optimal practices, and (2) discern the yield impact of individual factors, and their relative importance, in the context of commercial-scale fields, in contrast to small experimental plots, and within the range of cost-effective management practices that are actually being used by producers. Indeed, when hundreds of such producer reports are available, the yield difference between various management practices and the interactions of those practices can be contextualized for a given weather-soil context. Such analysis of large-scale producer data can thus complement and maybe provide a focus for what treatments to evaluate in the more costly agronomic field trial evaluations (see FIGURE 1 below for an example of how producer self-reported data was used by Grassini et al relative to soybean planting date in Nebraska).(17)Project Title: Biology and control of sclerotinia stem rot of soybeanPrincipal Investigator: Mehdi Kabbage, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Co-Investigators:Damon Smith, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Daren Mueller, Iowa State University, Martin Chilvers, Michigan State University, Sydney Everhart, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Budget Amount and Project Year: $88,700 Year 1III. Brief Project Justification an”

“(20)Project Title: Improving our understanding of stem canker and how to manage it in soybean across the MidwestPrincipal Investigator: Damon Smith, University of Wisconsin-MadisonKiersten Wise, Purdue University; Daren Mueller, Iowa State University; Febina Mathew, South Dakota State UniversityBudget Amount and Project Year: $50,000 Year 1Brief Project Justification and Rationale Need, state-of-the-art, opportunity for farmers and the soybean industry:Objective: Several different diseases can cause similar symptoms on soybeans. An example of a disease that is easily misdiagnosed as early crop maturity, sudden death syndrome (SDS), Sclerotinia stem rot or charcoal rot in the North Central United States, is soybean stem canker. Symptoms of the disease can include main stem wilting and widespread plant death in areas of a field (Fig. 1). Closer examination of plants often reveals sunken cankers on main stems (Fig. 2). In recent years stem canker and other diseases caused by fungi in the same group, such as pod and stem blight, have become increasingly problematic in the North Central region. Severe stem canker epidemics can occur in wet springs, and with climate experts predicting wetter springs, it is possible that this disease will be more prevalent in coming years (Fernandez et al. 1999). In 2014, this disease was frequently observed and mentioned as the second most prevalent disease in the North Central region, behind SDS (NCERA137 reports).(21)Project Title: Initiation of a genomic selection pipeline for public soybean breeders in the North Central RegionContact Information: Aaron Lorenz (PI), University of MinnesotaBill Beavis, Iowa State University, Patrick Brown, University of Illinois, Urbana, Brian Diers (PI), University of Illinois, Urbana, George Graef, University of Nebraska, LincolnMatt Hudson, University of Illinois, Urbana, Alex Lipka, University of Illinois, Urbana, Leah McHale, The Ohio State University, Randall Nelson, USDA-ARS and Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Henry Nguyen, University of Missouri, Katy Martin Rainey, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, 765-494-1212Andrew Scaboo, University of Missouri, William Schapaugh, Kansas State University, Grover Shannon, University of Missouri, Asheesh Singh, Iowa State University, Dechun Wang, Michigan State University, Budget Amount and Project Year: $368,739 Year 1Brief Project Justification and Rationale: Increases in soybean yield through breeding are slower than producers expect. There are several possible reasons for the reduced rate of gain in soybean grain yield, including limited genetic variation in the commercially used gene pool, amount of time required for each breeding cycle, size of the breeding populations, and accuracy of evaluations. Advances in genomics have made whole-genome genotyping less expensive than multi-location yield testing. A powerful approach to make use of this genomic information for selective breeding is through a method called genomic prediction and selection. Large datasets of genomic and phenotypic information are required to maximize the effectiveness of genomic prediction. Fortunately, a wealth of data already exists within the public soybean community that could be used to initiate a genomic prediction pipeline to assist soybean breeders to more effectively select for yield and introgress diversity into their breeding program. This pipeline will evolve into a service for soybean breeders that will help address all of the major restraints to soybean breeding progress. (22)Project Title: Seedling Diseases: Biology, Management and EducationPrincipal Investigators: Jason Bond, Southern IL. Univ. John Rupe, Univ. of ArkansasTony Adesemoye, UNMartin Chilvers, MSUSydney Everhart, UNAhmad Fakhoury, SIUChris Little, KSUDean Malvick, UMNFebina Mathew, SDSUGary Munkvold, ISUAlison Robertson, ISUKiersten Wise, PUUSB CollaboratorsLoren Giesler, UNHeather Kelly, UTLeonor Leandro”

“(6) Project Title: Characterization and Enhancement of Soybean Genetic Resources for Soilborne Disease ResistancePrinciple Investigator and Co-PIs: (PIs) James Kurle, Xianjin Ma, (Co-PIs) Jim Orf, Nevin Young, Kate Rainey.Amount and Project Year: $185,237 Year 2Brief Statement of Objectives:Obj. 1. Evaluate of soybean germplasm for resistance or partial resistance to Phytophthora sojae, Pythium irregulare, P. ultimum, and Fusarium graminearum (Kurle & Orf)Obj. 2. Identify of QTLs underlying resistance to P. sojae, F. graminearum, P. irregulare, and P. ultimum by association mapping (Kurle & Young)Obj. 3. Fine mapping, isolation, and functional verification of two uncharacterized Rps genes conferring resistance to P. sojae (Ma&Rainey)Obj. 4. Develop highly adapted soybean cultivars or experimental lines with major resistance QTLs and Rps genes by marker-assisted selection (Rainey & Orf)Brief Statement of Expected Deliverables (max 250 words):Obj. 1. Relate new QTLs/genes to resistance and partial resistance to P. sojae, P. ultimum, F. graminearum identified in early maturity lines.Obj. 2. Initial results of statistical analysis and association mapping for P. sojae. Obj. 3. Fine mapping of RpsUN2 to a 64-kb region within 430 kb previously associated with marker for this gene.Obj. 4. Introgression of RpsUN1 and RpsUN2 to elite breeding lines developed by Purdue.(7)Project Title: Micronutrients for Soybean Production: A Position Paper for the North-Central RegionPrincipal Investigator: Antonio P. Mallarino, Iowa State UniversityBudget Amount and Project Year: Year 2, $15,241Brief Statement of Objectives: Soybean growers in the in the North Central region have been asking many questions concerning possible soybean yield loss due to deficiency of micronutrients. However, few extension publications address this issue based on recent research results, and often have divergent recommendations not clearly related to soil differences across states. Therefore, the goal of this multi-state project is to gather information across key states of the North Central regional and prepare a regional position paper on rational use of micronutrients for soybean production. The specific objectives are: 1. Find, analyze, and summarize published and unpublished land-grant university field response-based information about soybean need for micronutrients and the value of both soil and plant tissue analyses in the North Central region. 2. Prepare and publish a regional position paper addressing the most important issues concerning use of micronutrients for soybean production in the North Central region.(8)Project Title: Iron Deficiency Chlorosis: Getting to the root of the problemInvestigators/institutions: Phil McClean (Project Leader and Robert Stupar (University of Minnesota). Budget Amount & Project Year: $141.599 Year 6Projects Strategic Goal is to develop useful molecular markers that can identify IDC efficient genotypes and use state of the art genomic technologies to identify genes involved in IDC efficiency or inefficiency. The ultimate goal of the research is to isolate candidate genes and develop markers for these genes that will aid the soybean breeder in developing IDC resistant varieties.(9)Project Title: Developing an Integrated Management and Communication Plan for Soybean Sudden Death SyndromePrinciple Investigator: Daren MuellerBudget Amount and Project Year: $141,599, Year 3Brief Statement of Objectives:The foundational management strategy for sudden death syndrome (SDS) is using resistant cultivars. However, in years such as 2010 and 2014, when environmental conditions are favorable for disease development, it is evident that resistance alone does not provide adequate control or reduce farmer risk sufficiently. Also, SDS continues to move into new areas. Thus, the main goal of this project is to investigate management options that will help ensure resistant cultivars will be as effective as possible thereby reducing risk as well as pro”