Increasing genetic diversity of Canadian soybeans to increase yield and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses

Objectives:  

• To increase diversity and improve the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) resistance by stacking resistant genes from Hartwig, Peking, PI567516C, PI88788, and/or Chinese sources.
• To identify precise genomic regions underlying yield and seed quality traits and accelerate variety development exploiting the multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population.
• To develop new varieties with improved resistance to sudden death syndrome (SDS) by introducing diverse genes from exotic germplasm and PI lines.

Expected Impacts:

• Release new food grade soybean varieties to the seed industry, with yields improved by 1.5% compared to current commercial Ontario varieties, on an annual basis. All the maturity group (MG) 1.5 and longer maturing varieties will be improved for SCN-resistance.
• By 2028, develop molecular markers for incorporating high yielding and seed quality traits, including protein, sucrose, and amino acids from Canadian and exotic germplasm.
• Identify drought tolerant varieties adapted to southwestern Ontario (MG1-MG2.5) that are better than commercially available competitive varieties by 2027/28.
• Develop new soybean varieties with improved stacked traits, including drought tolerance and SCN-resistance, for release and commercialization to the seed industry by 2027/28.
• Develop germplasm lines with improved adaptability to Ontario climate and improved SCN resistance that will use sources different from the common source (i.e., PI 88788) due to the latter’s resistance breakdown.
• Develop durable molecular markers for SCN genes using advanced functional genomic technology such as RNA-seq and proteomics.
• Use confirmed molecular markers underlying different resistance sources for stacking genes from at least two different sources.
• Develop varieties and germplasm with improved seed quality traits, including oil, fatty acids, protein, and sucrose, which will be ready to release to industry as new varieties or promising parental lines to be used in future crosses aimed at developing new varieties by 2027/28.
• Develop precise molecular markers and genomic fragments underlying yield and seed quality traits by 2027/28.
• Develop varieties with improved resistance to SDS by 2027/28.
• Develop molecular markers associated with SDS genes suitable for marker-assisted selection by 2027/28.

Project Overview:

The global production of soybean (Glycine max) is around 334 million metric tons. Along with other agricultural crops, the sustainability of soybean yields is threatened by several biotic and abiotic stresses that are projected to worsen due to climate change. Therefore, developing resilient and climate-smart germplasm and varieties is necessary to combat biotic and abiotic stresses.

The University of Guelph’s soybean breeding program based at Ridgetown Campus, has made a significant contribution to Canadian soybean production through the development of more than 50 soybean varieties over the past five decades.

The experimental approach includes over 110 annual crosses that will be made between parents carrying important traits of interest to address biotic and abiotic stresses while enhancing Canadian germplasm and increasing soybean yield and quality. The populations generated will be evaluated and selected through multiple filial (F) generations in the field and controlled conditions, under stress and normal environments, for agronomic and seed quality traits as well as the resistance/tolerance to stresses as described in detail below. The project will benefit the field crop sector and profitability in multiple ways through development of resilient climate-smart varieties with improved yield, drought tolerance and seed quality. Increasing yield gain per year by 50% from the current 1% (13 kg/ac/yr) to 1.5% (13 + 6.5 = 19.5 kg/ac/yr) as a result of the greater diversity of yield genes and more sustainable disease resistance and drought tolerance packages, will help protect the yield. All soybean production areas in Canada have the potential to benefit, which totalled 5.32 million acres in 2021. At the current price per metric tonne (MT) of $533/MT CDN, an additional 6.5 kg/ac/yr translates to $34.6 million in additional revenue per year nationally. The new varieties and germplasm with improved traits will be made available for use in both the public and private breeding programs across Canada for the development of new locally adapted varieties.

External Funding Partners:

Mitacs

SeCan

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)