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Two new soybean varieties will give southeastern farmers bigger yields
and higher-protein meal. Developed for southern climates by ARS
scientists, the new soybeansN86-7682 and N87-984are set for release in
1996. In field tests, N86-7682 outproduced other widely used, southern,
commercial varieties such as Clifford and Hutcheson by as much as seven
bushels per acre. Clifford and Hutcheson average 48 bushels per acre.
This new soybean can be used for feed or as a consumer crop. N87-984
could give poultry farmers a 52 percent-protein feed meal, compared with
the current industry standard of 48 percent.
Soybean and
Nitrogen Fixation Research, Raleigh, NC
Richard F. Wilson, (919) 515-3171
A new breeding line developed from a wild Chinese soybean could lead to
new varieties that stay dry even when harvest is delayed by rainy
weather. That's good news for southern producers whose soybean
harvesting is often hindered by hurricanes and wet weather. A two-week
delay in harvesting can cost soybean growers about $270 an acre.
Developed by an ARS plant breeder, soybeans developed from D86-4565 don't
require drying air to be forced through storage bins. In plantings in
Louisiana, D86-4565 yielded 45 bushels per acre, about the same as
"Forrest," a commercial variety. After two weeks of rainy weather, the
new line was of good quality, while seed of "Forrest" was
unmarketable.
Soybean
Production Research, Stoneville, MS
Edgar E. Hartwig, (601) 686-3216
A new grape from ARS yields sweet, juicy raisins that dry on the
vine. DOVine (the "DOV" is for "dry on vine") raisins taste better
than regular ones dried in vineyard trays. When DOVine's fruit-bearing
canes are cut, the grapes dry on trellises, forming raisins that can be
mechanically harvested. This year, after five years of experimental
plantings, ARS offered DOVine cuttings to growers and nurseries. Other
varieties can be vine-dried, but DOVine is ready to harvest sooner. So,
the raisins are less likely to be damaged by early rains. DOVine is
probably the world's only commercial seedless grape produced from two
seedless parents. Typically, breeders use one seeded and one seedless
parent, a slower approach because only 15 to 30 percent of the new vines
will produce seedless grapes. Embryo rescuethe biotech maneuveris about
two to three times as efficient, with about 50 to 85 percent of the new
vines yielding seedless grapes. Scientists used pollen from one seedless
parent to fertilize the flowers of another seedless vine. The new grapes,
produced from the fertilized flowers, each contain an embryo or seed wisp
so small that it normally wouldn't survive. Scientists removed the wisps
from the developing grapes, then nurtured them on special nutrients until
they formed plants large enough to be moved from the laboratory to the
greenhouse and then to the research vineyard.
Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Fresno, CA
David W. Ramming, (209) 453-3000
Vavilov and Douglas, two new crested wheatgrasses from ARS, should help
fight erosion as well as feed wildlife and cattle on western ranges.
Both grasses are drought tolerant and produce strong roots that help hold
soil in place. In some regions of the Great Plains and Intermountain
West, they can supply spring and autumn forage at altitudes up to 7,500
feet. ARS scientists began breeding and field-testing the grasses more
than 10 years ago. They can now provide breeders with small quantities of
seed of the new varieties. Utah Crop Improvement Association keeps stocks
for commercial seed producers. Vavilov crested wheatgrass can survive
with only eight inches of water a year; Douglas needs at least 10.
Vavilov is named after Soviet plant geneticist Nikolay Vavilov, who died
in a Stalinist camp in 1943. He established one of the world's foremost
collections of plant seeds. Douglas is named for the late Douglas Dewey,
an ARS researcher who became a world authority on wheatgrasses and related
species. He developed more than 200 new grass hybrids that scientists can
use in developing improved grasses.
Forage and Range Research
Unit, Logan, UT
N. Jerry Chatterton, (801) 797-2249
Tilling farm fields at night may be a nightmare for weeds. ARS
research in corn fields showed nighttime tillage can cut some weed
problems in half. Unlike daylight tillage where light penetrates the
soil to break the dormancy of buried weed seeds, tilling at night prevents
this from occurring. Night tillage postpones some weed emergence, causing
seeds to become less viable and more prone to attack by soil microbes.
Small seeded broadleaf weeds were the hardest hitless than 50 percent
emerged. Some large seeded weeds, like velvetleaf, cocklebur and annual
grass species still sprouted after night tilling. Still, the overall
result was fewer weedsmeaning reduced tractor trips and herbicides. This
adds up to savings for farmers while sustaining the environment.
National Soil Tilth Laboratory, Ames,
IA
Douglas Buhler, (515) 294-5502
Fungi living in desert soils may be a major reason why desert plants
can survive on scant water and in scorching heat. ARS scientists
discovered three types of fungi thriving on the roots of desert plants.
These fungi help roots take up essential plant nutrients. On the other
hand, they may protect roots from taking in excessive or toxic amounts of
minerals and salts. Scientists identified the fungi while collecting
several desert fungi in New Mexico and surrounding states. They believe
the microbes may have been there for thousands of years, but no one
thought they were important to study until recently. Also uncovered were
bacterial colonies that grow with the fungi on sand particles. It seems
the bacteria have the ability to dissolve the sand, releasing minerals for
plant use and generating new soil. Greater understanding of underground
plant-soil-microbe relationships helps the scientists develop
recommendations for improving the capacity of desert range to support wild
and domestic grazing animals.
Rangeland Management Research,
Las Cruces, NM
Jerry R. Barrow, (505) 646-4842
A new potting mix for plants gets its nutrients from solids screened
from the wastewater of trout tanks. Fish manure, uneaten fish food
and other solids supply nutrients needed to enrich the soil. ARS
scientists also added straw, another waste product, in developing the
potting mix. It was tested as a replacement for rockwool, a commercial
growth medium that has a high water-holding capacity and good aeration
properties. Test results: lettuce was comparable in quality and yield to
that grown in the commercial medium. The next step will be to add
disease-suppressing microorganisms to the potting mix.
Appalachian Fruit Research
Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV
D. Michael Glenn, (304) 725-3451
A new gel mixture made primarily from cornstarch is proving successful
in supplying nutrients so tiny apple, pear and raspberry plants thrive in
laboratory jars. This technique, called tissue culture, makes it
possible to grow hundreds of plants compared to a handful started from
rootstock. ARS scientists found the gel produced healthier plants at only
a fraction of the cost of agar now imported for tissue culture use. Agar
costs about $98 per pound, while a pound of cornstarch sells for about 89
centsless if purchased in bulk. Spain is the world's largest supplier of
agar, which is made from a type of algae that grows primarily off the
coasts of Spain and Mexico. Agar for tissue culture is now used by about
100 companies in this country. Two major companies are interested in
commercializing the ARS gel.
Fruit Laboratory,
Beltsville, MD
Ingrid Fordham, (301) 504-7649
Last updated: October 29, 1996
Return to: Quarterly Report
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