Soybean Breeder Ups Gene Pool: January 1998 Soybeans Today

Soybeans Today January 1998

Soybean Breeder Ups Gene Pool

By Howell Medders

Most of the soybean varieties grown in Arkansas have been interbred with grandparents, parents and siblings. ThatÕs normal for soybeans, but the shallow gene pool limits the potential for improvement, says U of A soybean breeder Dr. Clay Sneller.

Genetic diversity is essential for big improvements in yield, disease resistance, drought

tolerance and other traits in Arkansas-adapted soybean varieties, Sneller said.

Plant breeders limit genetic diversity by crossbreeding varieties already adapted to local growing conditions, which means the genes from common ancestors are mostly swapped back and forth in different combinations for small improvements in yield or other traits.

If a breeder uses a parent not already adapted to local conditions in an attempt to capture a few highly valued genes, years of back-crossing may be needed to get rid of undesired genes. For the private seed company, the need to produce a marketable variety that will return a profit to the breeding program makes this a risky procedure.

The U of A breeding program supported by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board is developing genetically diverse breeding lines that have already been back-crossed to make them adapted to Arkansas conditions.

Sneller has crossed soybeans from northern states, China and Japan with Arkansas- adapted varieties to develop high-yielding, genetically diverse lines in field plots at U of A Division of Agriculture locations.

These lines are not yet ready for release as new varieties, but they can be used by all breeders to develop improved, genetically diverse, Arkansas-adapted varieties, Sneller said.

For additional information about any board-related activity contact:

Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
ATTN: Brandy Carroll
P.O. Box 31
Little Rock, AR 72203-0031
Phone: 501-228-1268

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