Abstract The Louisiana Sugarcane Cultivar Development Program is charged with developing sugarcane ( Saccharum spp. hybrids) cultivars adapted for production in South Louisiana. The program is conducted through a collaborative effort involving the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Sugar Research Station, the USDA‐ARS Sugarcane Research Unit, and the American Sugar Cane League. The selection and release of ‘L 15‐306’ (Reg. no. CV‐225, PI 709602) to commercial sugarcane growers in Louisiana align with the program's objectives by providing another option for a well‐adapted, disease‐resistant, high sugar‐yielding cultivar. In selection trials, L 15‐306 consistently maintained its performance across five important agronomic traits (stalk weight, population, cane yield, sucrose content, and sugar yield), performing comparably or statistically better than L 01‐299, the leading cultivar in terms of hectares planted in the Louisiana sugar industry. Ratoonability is a characteristic highly prioritized for increased profitability, and an evaluation of the ratoonability of L 15‐306 showed performance similar to that of L 01‐299 in terms of yield consistency over a three‐crop cycle. Early physiological maturity, coupled with a favorable response to ripener applications, will allow the cultivar to fit nicely with the short growing season of Louisiana sugar production. In response to stress assessments, L 15‐306 is rated as moderately freeze‐tolerant and resistant or highly resistant to five common diseases (leaf scald, smut, mosaic, rust, and brown stripe), and susceptible to damage from infestation by the sugarcane borer. L 15‐306 has a medium‐sized stalk with good canopy coverage. It shares common ancestry with many commercial cultivars, with L 01‐283 as its female parent and LCP 85‐384 as its male grandparent.
Abstract ‘HoCP 14‐885’ (Reg. No. CV‐226, PI 708926) sugarcane (interspecific hybrids of Saccharum spp.) was selected from progenies of a cross made in Canal Point, FL, and evaluated by scientists at the USDA‐ARS in Houma, LA, in cooperation with the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and the American Sugar Cane League, Inc. HoCP 14‐885 was released to growers in Louisiana in 2021. Evaluations of the plant‐cane, first‐ratoon, and second‐ratoon crops at 12 field locations revealed that HoCP 14‐885 had significantly greater sucrose content than the current major Louisiana cultivar ‘L 01‐299’ in plant cane and first ratoon, as well as on average across all crops. It also had significantly greater cane yield in the plant‐cane crop than L 01‐299 and significantly greater sugar yield in the plant‐cane crop and across the entire crop cycle. HoCP 14‐885 is a mid–season‐maturing cultivar that matures earlier than L 01‐299. In cold‐tolerance trials, HoCP 14‐885 demonstrated poor performance in juice‐deterioration characteristics. The cultivar is resistant to smut (caused by Sporisorium scitamineum ), brown rust (caused by Puccinia melanocephala ), and the common strains of Sorghum mosaic virus found in Louisiana, USA. HoCP 14‐885 has moderate susceptibility to leaf scald (caused by Xanthomonas albilineans ), is susceptible to ratoon stunt [caused by Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx)] disease, and is moderately susceptible to the sugarcane borer ( Diatraea saccharalis F.). The release of HoCP 14‐885 sugarcane provides Louisiana growers with a cultivar that has high cane and sucrose yields, low fiber content, good ratooning ability, and the disease resistance necessary for the sustainable cultivation of sugarcane in Louisiana.
Abstract Andean abiotic‐resilient (AAR) common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) germplasm lines AAR1 to AAR7 were developed through an international bulk breeding effort to improve abiotic stress tolerance and combine it with disease resistance by increasing genetic richness. These lines represent unique sources of climate resilience selected by the USDA‐ARS in Puerto Rico, the Agriculture Research Council in South Africa, and the USDA‐ARS in Washington State, with subsequent selection in Puerto Rico for tolerance against multiple stresses, including drought, high ambient temperature, low nitrogen soil fertility, and root rot. The resulting seven lines all possess drought tolerance and varying levels of heat tolerance. AAR1 (Reg. No. GP‐331, PI 708105; cream‐colored seed type), AAR4 [Reg. No. GP‐334, PI 708108; purple/blue speckled (kablanketi) seed type], AAR5 (Reg. No. GP‐335, PI 708109; light red kidney seed type), and AAR6 (Reg. No. GP‐336, PI 708110; dark red kidney seed type) exhibit moderate heat tolerance, while AAR2 (Reg. No. GP‐332, PI 708106) and AAR3 (Reg. No. GP‐333, PI 708107; light red kidney seed types) and AAR7 (Reg. No. GP‐337, PI 708111; pink with dark stripes seed type) possess moderately high levels of heat tolerance. In addition, AAR2, AAR3, AAR4, and AAR6 showed moderate resistance to ashy stem blight [caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goidanich], while AAR6 and AAR7 showed some tolerance to the root rot complex and low nitrogen soil fertility. All seven lines exhibit early flowering and maturity, six show a type I compact determinate bush growth habit, one is an indeterminate type II, and all have a rapid and definitive switch from vegetative to reproductive development. These characteristics associated with escape from heat stress are also associated with resistance mechanisms in warmer, drier climates.
Abstract ‘CP 16—2283’ (Reg. no. CV‐222, PI 706648) sugarcane cultivar (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) was released to growers for commercial cultivation on organic (muck) soils. It was developed through cooperative research conducted by the USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugar Cane League, Inc. It originated from a biparental cross made at Canal Point (CP), Florida, on December 30, 2013 where CP 06‐2897 was the female parent, and the male parent was ‘CP 06‐2400’ (PI 670018). CP 16‐2283 has higher commercial recoverable sucrose, sucrose content, and ratooning ability than ‘CP 96‐1252’ (PI 634935) and has similar sugar and cane yield to CP 96‐1252. CP 16‐2283 is resistant to brown rust (caused by Puccinia melanocephala H. & P. Sydow) , orange rust (caused by Puccinia kuehnii E. J. Butler) , Sugarcane mosaic virus (strain E), and smut [caused by Sporisorium scitamineum (Syd.) M. Piepenbring et al. ], with moderate resistance to leaf scald (caused by Xanthomonas albilineans Ashby, Dowson) and ratoon stunt disease (caused by Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli Evtushenko et al.). CP 16‐2283 possesses the positive allele for the Bru1 marker, which is linked to brown rust resistance. Yield data of CP 16‐2283 and commercial reference cultivars (‘CP 00‐1101’ [PI 651881] and CP 96‐1252) were collected from 15 harvests (i.e., three crop cycles [plant cane, first and second ratoon]) at five organic‐soil locations in final‐stage replicated yield trials. When compared to CP 96‐1252, CP 16‐2283 had significantly (P < 0.05) higher commercial recoverable sucrose (6.3%) at all crop cycles. The sucrose content of CP 16‐2283 was statistically equivalent to that of CP 00‐1101, a high‐sugar check cultivar with relatively low yield. CP 16‐2283 was released for commercial production for its equivalent cane yield and improved CRS, sucrose content, disease resistance, and ratooning ability compared to the commonly cultivated check CP 96‐1252. CP 16‐2283 was susceptible to freeze among 23 tested genotypes. With its demonstrated resistance to disease and higher sucrose content, CP 16‐2283 is expected to increase the profitability of sugarcane production in Florida's organic soils.
Abstract ‘R18‐14502’ (Reg. no. CV‐566, PI 706684) is a conventional maturity group Late‐IV (Relative maturity 4.8) soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] variety developed and released by the University of Arkansas System—Division of Agriculture Research & Extension Center in 2023. Plants of R18‐14502 have indeterminate growth habit, purple flowers, gray pubescence, tan pods, and seeds with a black hilum. Over the four years of testing (2019–2023), R18‐14502 was evaluated for grain yield in 48 environments across eight states with an average grain yield of 4,413 kg ha −1 , representing 106.8% of non‐Xtend checks and 93.2% of Xtend checks. On average, seeds contain 387 g kg −1 of protein and 197 g kg −1 of oil content, weighing 15.5 g 100 seeds −1 . Additionally, R18‐14502 is resistant to brown stem rot and stem canker, tolerant to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)‐inhibiting herbicides, and is excluder for iron deficiency chlorosis. R18‐14502 provides U.S. Mid‐South soybean growers flexibility due to seed cost savings and herbicide rotation strategies.
Abstract Yarns from all fibers traditionally were produced by aligning the fibers and adding twist. That technique was mechanized over time and today is referred to as ring spinning. About 1970, open‐end spinning technology was introduced that offers increased speed of production while ring offers flexibility in size and quality of yarn. More recently, air jet spinning technology, also called vortex or Murata Vortex Spinning (MVS), provides spinning speeds that exceed that of open‐end and is reportedly 20 times faster than ring. Vortex spinning technology is more suited for man‐made fibers than for cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) fibers, which by their nature are variable in length, diameter, maturity, etc. For upland cotton fibers to compete with man‐made fibers as MVS technology is adopted, breeders must develop genotypes with fiber properties different than current cultivars. The average fiber length of U.S. upland cotton in 2024 was 28.8 mm and average strength was 296 kN m kg −1 . These and other characteristics must be improved if upland cotton is to remain a natural fiber of choice that is spinnable on the new MVS technology. TAM JG‐255 ESU (Reg no. GP‐1170, PI 709156), averaged 22% stronger fibers than the predominant comparison cultivar, Tamcot 73, TAM AU‐095 ELSU (Reg no. GP‐1169, PI 709155) averaged 9% stronger fibers, and TAM 18J‐13 ELSU‐ESU (Reg no. GP‐1167, PI 709153) and TAM 18L‐37 ELSU‐ESU (Reg no. GP‐1168, PI 709154) averaged 13% stronger fibers. The MVS yarn quality, as defined by yarn tensile strength and appearance of yarn produced with TAM JG‐255 ESU was superior to Tamcot 73.
Abstract The sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] nested association mapping (NAM) population is a germplasm resource for genetic improvement of early‐season cold tolerance (ESCT) developed and released by the USDA, ARS at Lubbock, TX. The sorghum ARS_BTX623_NAM_ESCT (Reg. No. MP‐7 NSL 558860 MAP) population consists of three biparental parental subpopulations comprising a total of 771 recombinant inbred lines (F 6 –F 7 generations). The recombinant inbred lines were derived from the inbred line BTx623, which was crossed separately to the cold‐tolerant HongKeZi (PI 567946), NiushengZui (PI 568016), and Kaoliang (PI 562744) lines. The ARS_BTX623_NAM_ESCT was used as a genetic resource to dissect quantitative trait loci and identify DNA markers useful for improving sorghum cold tolerance. Notably, ARS_BTX623_NAM_ESCT includes new sorghum germplasm that exhibits transgressive segregation compared with its founders for enhanced ESCT based on germinability, field emergence, and seedling vigor—traits that are needed for ESCT in a production setting. The populations were shown to be useful for validating quantitative trait loci for cold tolerance and served as a resource for identifying DNA markers for cold tolerance that are now being applied for breeding purposes. The current NAM population in the BTx623 background is an enduring approach toward capturing genetic variation and genotype information from Chinese landrace germplasm to introduce, create variation in, and recombine genes for ESCT to produce a usable pre‐breeding germplasm resource for downstream improvement of sorghum ESCT.
Abstract ‘VT Beahm’ (Reg. no CV‐384, PI 702638) is an awnless, six‐row barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar with a winter growth habit. VT Beahm was released by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station in May 2021. Prior to being named, VT Beahm was tested under the experimental designation VA16BFHB‐268 NA. VT Beahm was evaluated from 2020 to 2022 at four to six locations in the Virginia Tech Official Variety Trial. Compared with commercial cultivars, the mean grain yield (3755 kg ha −1 ) of VT Beahm was similar to that of ‘Nomini’ but lower than that of ‘Secretariat’, ‘Thoroughbred’, and ‘Flavia’. The average grain volume weight of VT Beahm (63.3 kg hL −1 ) was significantly ( p ≤ 0.05) higher than that of Nomini, but lower than that of the other commercial cultivars. Head emergence of VT Beahm was similar to that of Nomini and Secretariat and 6 and 10 days earlier than that of Thoroughbred and Flavia, respectively. VT Beahm was developed primarily as a replacement for the barley cultivar Nomini. VT Beahm provides barley producers and end users in the Eastern United States with acceptable forage quality and moderate‐to‐high levels of resistance to prevalent diseases, including Fusarium head blight. Forage evaluation results showed acceptable quality profiles with specific quality traits, including high crude protein and dry matter content for the years tested. VT Beahm is a good winter forage barley cultivar best adapted to the Mid‐Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. regions. VT Beahm will provide producers and farmers in Virginia and neighboring states with a viable alternative to the currently grown commercial forage winter barley cultivars.
Abstract The soybean cultivar ‘ND21008GT20’ [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (PVP no. 202200004; Reg. No. CV‐570, PI 699333), originally named as breeding line ND14‐6120(GT), was released in January 2021 by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, North Dakota State University (NDSU). ND21008GT20 is a Maturity Group 00 (relative maturity 00.8) glyphosate‐tolerant (GT) cultivar suitable for northern North Dakota. It has purple flower color, tawny pubescence, brown pod color, gray hilum, and dull seed‐coat luster. ND21008GT20 was evaluated by the NDSU soybean breeding program in advanced yield trials and in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Uniform tests for a total of 20 site‐years between 2016 and 2018. The cultivar ND21008GT20 presents early maturity, glyphosate tolerance, resistance to Phytophthora sojae Kaufmann & Gerdemann race 4, and high tolerance to iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC).
Abstract The re‐introduction of malting barley production into non‐traditional growing regions has created a demand for new varieties that tolerate the biotic and abiotic stresses prevalent in those regions. ‘Excelsior Gold’ (Reg. no. CV‐386, PI 705030) and ‘HudsonNY’ (Reg. no. CV‐385, PI 705029) are two‐row spring malting barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars developed and released by the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station in 2020 that combine spot blotch ( Bipolaris sorokiniana Sacc) and preharvest sprouting resistance (PHS) with local adaptation and acceptable malting quality. In statewide yield trials conducted by Cornell University, Excelsior Gold and HudsonNY performed similarly to ‘AAC Synergy’ and ‘Newdale’ in yield, with higher test weight, an earlier heading date, higher PHS resistance, and greater height with equal or less lodging than AAC Synergy and Newdale. Excelsior Gold and HudsonNY have DON levels like AAC Synergy. Excelsior Gold and HudsonNY have acceptable malting quality compared to AAC Synergy, but the beta‐glucan is somewhat elevated in Excelsior Gold.
Abstract Cowpea [ Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a summer diploid legume species (2 n = 2 x = 22) that provides an affordable source of vegetable protein for human consumption. It is drought and heat tolerant, making it a suitable crop for resource‐constrained environments. However, the limited availability of short‐season cowpea cultivars and seed restrict its use in cropping systems as a rotational crop. Short‐season cowpea fits well into existing cropping systems. The short‐season trait provides farmers with opportunities to cultivate multiple cowpea growing seasons within a year. TAMC 241 (Reg. no GP‐328, PI 709376), TAMC 243 (Reg no. GP‐329, PI 709377), and TAMC 244 (Reg. no GP‐330, PI 709378) are new short‐season and high‐protein cowpea varieties. They were developed to increase crop profitability and to expand their use as both cash and rotational crops in southern U.S. environments, such as Texas. These cowpea varieties have a shorter maturity period than the current early maturing variety Golden Eye Cream (GEC). They can be harvested 16 days earlier than GEC. The average seed yields from 11 location–year environments were 1387, 1236, and 1168 kg ha −1 for TAMC 241, TAMC 243, and TAMC 244, respectively. Their protein content ranges from 23% to 27%, or on an absolute basis, 4%–9% higher than that of GEC while maintaining a competitive yield. These cultivars are unrelated to GEC and, therefore, also increase the genetic diversity of cowpea cultivars for growers.
Abstract Adaptive traits enable weeds to persist and compete in agroecosystems, undermining crop productivity and complicating management. To provide a permanent resource for dissecting the genetic basis of these traits, 396 recombinant inbred lines (RILs; Reg. no MP‐17, PI NSL 559512 MAP) were developed from a cross between the weedy red rice accession ‘US1’ and the rice ( Oryza sativa L.) breeding line ‘EM93‐1’ by single‐seed descent from the F 2 to F 12 generations at South Dakota State University. The F 12 RILs were evaluated for wild‐like traits (seed dormancy, pigmentations, and appendages) and crop‐mimic traits (flowering time, plant height, seed dimensions, and seed weight). A subpopulation of 250 lines and the parents were genotyped using an array of 7098 single nucleotide polymorphism loci. Based on the genotyping data, the parental polymorphism was 20.2%, and the mean RIL purity was 96.9%. A high‐resolution linkage map of 1259 cM was constructed across the 12 chromosomes. Segregation distortion loci were mapped on chromosomes 6, 7, 8, and 9. The map characterized genome‐wide recombination landscapes and identified 27 recombination hot spots and 13 cold spots. The RIL population is being used to map quantitative trait loci for adaptive traits, to model epistasis and genotype × environment interactions, including seedbank longevity under till and no‐till systems, and to investigate the origins and evolution of weedy rice. The population contains all reported biotypes of weedy rice and can be used for advanced research on the origins and evolution of conspecific and congeneric weeds, as well as for allelic mining to improve crop varieties. The RILs are deposited at the USDA‐ARS Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center.
Abstract The New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station announces the release of ‘NuMex COT 19’ (Reg. CV‐151, PI 709375) cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.), selected as a progeny row in F 2.6 from an interspecific hybrid between ‘Acala 1517–99’ ( G. hirsutum L.; Reg. No. CV‐115, PI 612326, PVP 200000181) and ‘PHY 76 Pima’ ( G. barbadense L.; PI 617048, PVP 200100120). Tested in New Mexico between 2009 and 2013, NuMex COT 19 exceeded the average lint yield of its high‐yielding Upland parent Acala 1517–99 by 52.6% and exceeded the yield of the more recent high‐yielding release ‘Acala 1517–08’ by 21.8%. When tested in 13 locations across 11 Southern states in 2012, the average yield of NuMex COT 19 was significantly higher (by 26.7%) than that of Acala 1517–08. Except for the two Texas locations where its yield advantage was low (by 3%–6%), the average yield of NuMex COT 19 was 10%–51% higher than that of Acala 1517–08, and the differences were significant in 9 of the 13 individual tests. Among the 32 cultivars and strains tested, NuMex COT 19 ranked second overall for lint yield and also produced significantly higher average yield (7.2%–16.5%) than the three commercial checks, ‘DP 393’, ‘SG 105’, and ‘FM 958’. Compared with Acala 1517–08 and the three commercial cultivars, NuMex COT 19 had smaller bolls and seed, a lower lint index, and more seed per boll. It had a higher lint percentage and shorter and weaker fibers than Acala 1517–08, but finer fibers than the three commercial cultivars. NuMex COT 19 represents one of the first Upland cotton cultivars with a significant improvement in lint yield through direct introgression breeding with Pima cotton.
Abstract Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield can be reduced by 30% or more when infected with frogeye leaf spot (FLS), a fungal disease caused by Cercospora sojina K. Hara. The Rcs3 quantitative trait locus (QTL) provides strong resistance to all races of C. sojina reported in the United States and Brazil. By backcrossing the Rcs3 QTL from the resistant cultivar ‘Davis’ (Reg. no. 56, PI 553039) into the elite cultivars ‘Gordon’, ‘Thomas’, and ‘Wright’, three BC 5 F 2 ‐derived near‐isogenic lines (NILs) were developed: ‘Gordon‐ Rcs3 ’ (Reg. no. GP‐551, PI 708927), ‘Thomas‐ Rcs3 ’ (Reg. no. GP‐553, PI 708929), and ‘Wright‐ Rcs3 ’ (Reg. no. GP‐552, PI 708928). In greenhouse disease assays, these Rcs3 NILs were resistant to five virulent races of C. sojina . In field evaluations, the NILs had similar appearance and agronomic characteristics to their respective recurrent parent. Haplotype analysis indicates that a segment of chromosome 16 harboring the Rcs3 QTL has been introgressed into each NIL. This germplasm will be useful as parents for breeding soybeans resistant to FLS and for future research on FLS and the Rcs3 QTL. These Rcs3 NILs are being released as germplasm by the University of Georgia for breeding and research purposes.
Abstract Soft red winter wheat (SRWW; Triticum aestivum L.) is a major crop grown in the U.S. Southeast Region (the Southeast) that contributes significantly to wheat growers and the industry. However, wheat is challenged by many stresses, resulting in substantial losses in yield and quality. Therefore, developing new cultivars with high yield potential, resistance to major fungal diseases and pests in the Southeast, and good quality is warranted. This is the main goal of the SRWW breeding programs at the University of Georgia (UGA) and the Southern UNiversities GRAINS programs. The ‘GA 09377‐16LE18’ (Reg. No. CV‐1255, PI 698828) SRWW cultivar is a well‐adapted wheat developed and released by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 2019 and licensed to Dyna‐Grow Company under the name “Rutledge.” GA 09377‐16LE18 is overall well adapted to the Southeast and specifically for conditions in Georgia. It is a high‐yielding cultivar with very good resistance to most dominant diseases, including leaf rust (caused by Puccinia triticina Erikss.), stripe rust (caused by P. striiformis Westend.), powdery mildew (caused by Erysiphe graminis ), and soil‐borne wheat mosaic virus. GA 09377‐16LE18 is moderately susceptible to Fusarium head blight (caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) and possesses moderate field resistance to Hessian fly [ Mayetiola destructor (Say)], although it is susceptible to biotypes B, C, and L. Overall, as a SRWW, GA 09377‐16LE18 showed excellent quality attributes, including milling and baking quality.
Abstract ‘PU305’ (Reg. no. GP‐953, PI 705594), ‘PU306’ (Reg. no. GP‐954, PI 705595), and ‘PU307’ (Reg. no. GP‐955, PI 705596) are sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] parent lines released by Purdue University in 2025. They were developed at the Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE), West Lafayette, IN. PU305 (experimental no. 20WL7228), PU306 (experimental no. 20WL7221), and PU307 (experimental no. 20WL7233) carry novel dwarf3 alleles that confer height stability without negatively affecting agronomic performance or yield potential. These lines were developed by introgressing stable dwarf3 alleles from SC124, SC134, and SC991 into Tx430. SC124, SC134, and SC991 are sorghum conversion lines identified as carrying novel dwarf3 alleles, namely dw 3 ‐sd3 , dw 3 ‐sd4 , and dw 3 ‐sd5 , respectively. Tx430 is an elite pollinator parent that carries the dwarf3 reference allele, dw 3 ‐ref . PU305, PU306, and PU307 were evaluated for agronomic traits per se and in testcross hybrids at ACRE in 2021 and 2022. PU305, PU306, and PU307 were comparable to Tx430 in flowering times and plant heights. Field trials of the testcross hybrids also demonstrated similar flowering times and plant heights, with yield potential ranging from 9.2 to 10 t/ha, comparable to those of the hybrid check (A03MN952 × Tx430). The restorer lines (R‐lines) PU305, PU306, and PU307 provide useful sources of the stable‐dwarf phenotype without any loss of hybrid yield performance.
'CP 12-2035 ' (Reg. No. CV-223, PI 706731) sugarcane cultivar (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) was released to growers in July 2024 for cultivating on sand soils in Florida after a decade-long advancement through cooperative research conducted by the USDA ARS, the Florida Sugarcane League Inc., and the University of Florida. It originated from a poly-cross made at Canal Point (CP). The Florida Sugarcane Variety Committee recommended release of CP 12-2035 due to its high sugar yields (20.90 Mg ha-1), commercial recoverable sucrose content (133.4 kg Mg-1) on sand soils, and acceptable disease resistance. CP 12-2035 has demonstrated resistance to brown rust, orange rust, and moderate resistance to mosaic, ratoon stunt, and smut, moderate susceptibility to leaf scald. In late-stage yield trials, the sugar yields of CP 12-2035 were 23.4, 31.4, and 42.9% higher than those of the check varieties 'CP 03-1912 ', 'CP 96-1252 ', and 'CPCL 97-2730 ', respectively. CP 12-2035 also produced heavier stalks than all three tested reference checks. It was more tolerant to freeze stress over reference cultivars. With its demonstrated resistance to disease and elevated sugar production, CP 12-2035 is expected to positively influence both sugarcane production and crop sustainability in Florida.
There is an interest in soybean oil enriched with oleic acid and reduced linolenic acid to improve oil functionality. The soybean breeding program at the University of Missouri-Fisher Delta Research, Extension, and Education Center has developed and released soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] 'S18PR-190 HOLL' (Reg. no. CV-567, PI 708613). It is a conventional non-genetically modified (non-GM) maturity group IV (relative maturity 4.8) soybean cultivar averaging 80.2% oleic acid and 2.3% linolenic acid. S18PR-190 HOLL was evaluated in 38 environments across six states from 2019 to 2022. It yielded 99% of the check means across 25 environments without off-target exposure to the herbicide dicamba. However, it averaged 16% lower yield versus the overall check means at 13 locations with significant off-target dicamba injury. S18PR-190 HOLL is resistant to multiple diseases, including soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) races 2 (HG type 1.2.5.7), 3 (HG type 0) and 5 (HG type 2.5.7), and stem canker (SC) (Diaporthe aspalathi Jansen, Castlebury& Crous). Because of its high-oleic acid, low linolenic acid content, disease resistance, and competitive yield potential, S18PR-190 HOLL can be an excellent soybean cultivar for farmers to potentially maximize profits by receiving a premium price for its non-GM seed oil fatty acid profile.
'GoWheat 9216H' (Reg. no. CV-1224, PI 708101) is a hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that was bred and released by the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Wheat Improvement Program in 2021. GoWheat 9216H is an F4-derived line advanced from the cross 'X09A440S' ( = TX07A001482/TAM 401)/'Duster' that was made in Bushland, TX, in 2010. GoWheat 9216H is a medium-maturing, semi-dwarf, awned and white glumed wheat that has demonstrated high grain yield potential across many Texas environments in both irrigated and dryland conditions. GoWheat 9216H is resistant to stem rust (Sr; Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers f. sp. tritici Erikss. & E. Henn.), leaf rust (Lr; P. triticina Erikss.), and stripe rust (Yr; P. striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Erikss.), with marker data suggesting it carries Lr34, Lr37, Lr68, Yr17, Yr18, YrM1225, and Sr38. It is moderately resistant to Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (Say)]. This cultivar shows good baking and milling quality traits equivalent to high-quality checks and further features large seeds and high grain volume weight. Its height is similar to that of recently released Texas A&M cultivars, but it has a later maturity date. GoWheat 9216H is poised to perform well under both irrigated and dryland conditions in the Texas Rolling Plains, South and Central Texas, and the Blacklands, as well as in other regions across the state with similar adaptation zones.
Four soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] lines, two with lanceolate (narrow) leaf shape (LD11-NL-1 [Reg. no. GP-549, PI 708601], LD11-NL-2 [Reg. no GP-550, PI 708602]) and two with ovate (broad) leaf shape (LD11-BL-1 [Reg. no GP-547, PI 708599], LD11-BL-2 [Reg. no GP-548, PI 708600]) were developed at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and released to investigate the effects of leaf shape on soybean physiology and productivity. These lines were developed through three generations of backcrossing (BC3) the ln allele for narrow leaf shape from the narrow-leaved donor parents PI 612713A and PI 547745 into the elite broad-leaved cultivar 'LD11-2170', followed by selfing to generate BC3F2-derived F4 lines. Marker-assisted selection using JAG1 gene-specific Kompetitive Allele Specific polymerase chain reaction markers was conducted during backcrossing and in the BC3F2 generation. The four selected near-isogenic lines share similar to 95% genetic similarity with the recurrent parent LD11-2170, and differ principally at the GmJAG1 locus, enabling precise study of the effects of leaf shape on soybean development, growth, and productivity. Leaf Area Index (LAI) in the narrow-leaved lines was 14%-16% lower on average across growth environments compared with broad-leaf lines. There were modest differences in the time to canopy closure, but no yield advantage was observed for narrow-leaf lines across environments and row spacings. Notably, narrow-leaved lines produced significantly more 4-seeded pods (34.2% vs. 1.8%). These germplasm resources will facilitate investigation into the physiological mechanisms underlying canopy architecture optimization and enable breeding for improved radiation-use efficiency in soybean, helping address the excessive LAI often seen in modern varieties.
