Replicated Yield Trials Research Articles

Genetic Studies on Variability, Heritability and Genetic Gain of Yield and Yield Related Traits in Foxtail Millets (Setaria italic L.)

The present work comprised of 40 foxtail millet advanced breeding lines obtained from small millet scheme, MARS, Dharwad. These lines with checks viz., DHFT-109-3 and HMT-100-1 were evaluated in replicated yield trial at millet scheme, MARS, Dharwad, during rabi 2020-21 for assessing genetic variability, heritability, and genetic gain among 17 traits. Wide range of variation provides an ample scope for selection of superior and desired advanced breeding lines by the plant breeders for further improvement of these characters. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits under study. In the present study foxtail millet advanced breeding lines exhibited moderate PCV and GCV for the most important economic traits viz., panicle length (18.01 and 15.85 % 15.85% and18.01%), panicle girth (15.25% and 15.45%), productive tiller per plant (18.44% and 19.40%) and straw yield per hectare (19.92% and 21.39%). The high phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation were observed for characters viz., specific leaf area (21.08% and 22.44%), specific leaf weight (20.52% and 26.72%), grain yield per plant (9.32% and 10.99 %), grain yield per plot (8.85 % and 10.49%) and straw yield per ha (19.92 and 21.39). Most of the traits viz., plant height(79 %), flag leaf length(98%), flag leaf width ( 80%), number of productive tillers per plant (90%), panicle length(98%), panicle girth (97 %), SPAD at 50 per cent flowering (92%), test weight (63%), specific leaf area (88%), specific leaf weight (87%), grain yield per plant(71%) and straw yield per hectare (87%) showed the high estimates of broad sense heritability (h2 b) indicating the reliability of the estimates for variation between advanced breeding lines and effectiveness of selection.

Development of Two Tossa Jute Mutants for Higher Fiber Yield Through Mutation Breeding

The demand for jute fiber is increasing instead of synthetic fiber nowadays. Developing an early and high fiber-yielding tossa jute line is the main breeding objective of jute growing areas including Bangladesh. To fulfill that objective, the existing cultivar JRO-524 was irradiated with five (700, 800, 900, and 1000 gy) doses of gamma-ray. A total of 25 M3 plants were first selected from bulked M2 plants. Two years of replicated yield trial experiments were conducted in different locations in Bangladesh. Among them, two mutants BJM-10-1-3 and BJM-10-1-5 were selected for higher fiber and stick yield. The selected mutants BJM-10-1-3 and BJM-10-1-5 showed 4% to 6% higher yield than their parent JRO-524. The mutant line BJM-10-1-5 showed higher fiber percentage (34.04%), fiber fitness (2.65%), and fiber brightness (44.15%). These two mutants have been under participatory varietal trial (PVT) for evaluation to release a tossa jute variety. These lines will play a vital role in reducing the seed import of variety JRO-524 from India. Vol. 10, No. 3, December 2023: 259-268

PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS AND ESTIMATED BREEDING VALUES FOR SELECTING SUITABLE PARENTAL GENOTYPES IN RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

Appropriate parental selection is the breeder’s main concern to exploit the highest genetic diversity and generate superior genotypes for subsequent breeding programs. Hence, the presented investigation proceeded to evaluate 353 breeding lines of rice at three breeding zones (Rajshahi, Cumilla, and Gazipur) in Bangladesh in replicated yield trials during the Boro season of 2018–2019 to identify the best genotypes and utilize them as parental materials. Data recorded on 12 yield-related traits helped to determine the best breeding lines with higher predicted breeding values. The first five principal components (PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4, and PC5) represented more than 70% (75.1%) contribution to the variability of the data. Three hundred fifty-three rice genotypes incurred distribution into five clusters over three environments. Clusters I, II, III, IV, and V comprised 66, 51, 83, 79, and 74 genotypes, respectively. Based on estimated breeding values (EBVs), IR107971-B-B RGA-B RGA-202 showed the highest value (0.395), followed by IR 108000-B-B-B-B-13 (0.329), IR 103309-B-B RGA-B RGA-194 (0.321), IR 107982-B-41-1-2-1 (0.291), IRRI 174 (0.264), and IR 107976-B-B RGA-B RGA-254 (0.234). The lowest EBV (0.022) appeared in IR103309-B-B RGA-B RGA- 204 among the top 20 genotypes. Both IR 103309-B-B RGA-B RGA-194 (0.321) and IR 107982-B-41- 1-2-1 (0.291) could benefit as parents for further breeding programs having higher EBVs and higher genetic diversity.

Exploring the trait‐yield association patterns in different oat mega‐environments of Canada

AbstractThis article presents a graphical method to visually analyze the trait–yield association (TYA) patterns based on data from multi‐location, multi‐year crop variety trials, exemplified using oat data from trials conducted across Canada from 2017 to 2022. Each year a new set of 60–66 oat (Avena sativa L.) breeding lines were tested in replicated yield trials at 9–11 locations, and data for yield, key agronomic and quality traits, and crown rust scores were collected at all or some of the locations. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated between yield and each trait for each trial. The correlation coefficients from different locations and years were arranged in a TYA × trial (TYT) two‐way table. This table was subjected to singular value decomposition, and the resulting first two principal components were used to generate a TYT biplot. The TYT biplot revealed three oat mega‐environments (MEs) in Canada, consistent with the conclusion from previous ME analyses, indicating that each ME had its characteristic TYA patterns. It was found that yield was consistently and positively correlated with crown rust (Puccinia coronata var. avenae) resistance, test weight, kernel weight, and groat content in ME1 (the crown rust‐prone regions of Ontario); yield was correlated positively with plant height but negatively with oil content in ME2 (the northern regions of eastern Canada). Interestingly, crown rust resistance was found to contribute negatively to yield in ME2. No strong and consistent TYAs were found in ME3 (the Canadian prairies). Different types of TYAs have different uses in genotypic selection.

HETEROSIS AND HETEROTIC GROUPING EFFECTS ON GRAIN YIELD, HEIGHT, TILLER DENSITY, AND DAYS TO HEADING IN HYBRID RICE (ORYZA

Heterotic groups are necessary for high vigor in hybrid rice. However, hybrids produced from crosses between parents from different rice subspecies (i.e., Indica × Japonica) have extensive incompatibility issues exhibited by low seed sets. The study objectives were to evaluate the heterosis in grain yield and yield-related traits between hybrids produced from low and high parental genetic distances (PGDs) and demonstrate the heterotic group approach in rice. From PGDs, eight and three hybrids were assigned to the low and high PGD hybrid groups, respectively. Neighbor-joining clustering and model-based population structure analyses classified the hybrid parents into four heterotic groups, with the low and high PGD hybrid groups found consisting of intra-subpopulation and intersubpopulation crosses, respectively. Replicated yield trials conducted at Beaumont, Texas, transpired in 2019 and 2020. The hybrids exhibited normal seed sets, with at least one of each hybrid's parents determined to possess the wide compatibility S5n allele necessary for normal seed sets in wide crosses. Trait and standard heterosis values estimates included the number of days to heading, plant height, tiller density, and grain yield. Higher trait values and heterosis for tiller density and grain yield occurred in the high than the low PGD hybrid group, especially in the inter-subpopulation crosses with indica rice. PGD had consistent positive correlations with heterosis for grain yield (r = 0.41 to 0.60) and tiller density (0.28 to 0.36) in both years. PGDs aid in determining highly heterotic cross combinations for tiller density and grain yield and in forming heterotic groups. Heterotic grouping is advisable through cluster and structure analyses of genome-wide markers instead of identifying genetically-distant crosses based on pedigree information.

High yielding common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties 'NIFA Lobia Red-22 and NIFA Lobia Yellow-22

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) improvement program was initiated at Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in 2018. Germplasm from various research institutes and farmers’ fields in KP was collected. The collected germplasm was evaluated in non-replicated fashion in spring 2018 and 2019 at research farm of NIFA for plant type, yield and yield components. Six genotypes were finally selected based on seed color, growth habit and subsequently tested in replicated yield trials conducted at NIFA, Peshawar and on farmers’ fields at Charsadda in spring 2020 & 2021, at Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), Mingora, Swat and Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Chitral in Kharif 2020, and on farmers’ fields at different locations in Kuram in kharif 2020 and 2021. Two genotypes, NCB-Tajaki (NIFA Lobia Red-22) and NCB-Watani (NIFA Lobia Yellow-22) out yielded all other genotypes across all locations as well as seasons. In spring 2020 and 2021, NCB-Tajaki (NIFA Lobia Red-22) and NCB-Watani (NIFA Lobia Yellow-22) produced higher average seed yield of 2195 and 2206 kg ha-1, respectively, whereas in kharif 2020 and 2021, the two genotypes produced higher average seed yield of 2082 and 2075 kg ha-1, respectively compared with other genotypes. The two genotypes were approved by the KP Seed Council under the name NIFA Lobia Red-22 and NIFA Lobia Yellow-22 for general cultivation in common bean growing areas of the KP on 20-01-2022.

Registration of ‘ND Victory’ green field pea

Abstract‘ND Victory’ (Reg. no. CV‐31, PI 701908) is the first semi‐leafless, green cotyledon field pea cultivar (Pisum sativum L.) developed by the North Dakota State University Pulse Crops Breeding Program and approved for release by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. It has white flowers, opaque seed coat, and smooth, round seed. It is semi‐dwarf, with lodging score of 3.3/9 and canopy height of 57 cm. Based on 30 environments (location‐year) of replicated yield trials in North Dakota, seed yield of ND Victory (2847 kg ha−1) was similar to commercial cultivar ‘CDC Striker’ (2819 kg ha−1) but significantly greater than ‘Cruiser’ (2653 kg ha−1) and ‘Aragorn’ (2639 kg ha−1) by 7.3 and 7.9%, respectively. ND Victory was also tested across 14 environments in Montana, where it had an average seed yield of 3264 kg ha−1, which was similar to ‘Hampton’ (3355 kg ha−1) but significantly greater than Aragorn (3110 kg ha−1) by 4.9%. ND Victory matures in approximately 90 days. ND Victory is a high protein cultivar, with protein content of 25.2%, exceeding the premium protein threshold of 24%. ND Victory (20%) is resistant to powdery mildew and performed similarly with resistant check ‘Spider’ (15%) and had significantly lower disease severity than ‘Salamanca’ (97%, susceptible check) and CDC Striker (82%). In irrigated field trials conducted under high Ascochyta blight pressure, ND Victory (5%) had lower disease severity than ‘AC Agassiz’ (10%) and CDC Striker (14%). ND Victory and CDC Striker exhibited similar response but significantly lower severity than AC Agassiz to Fusarium root rot inoculated with multiple Fusarium species pathogenic to pea.

Registration of ‘Pembroke 2021’ soft red winter wheat

AbstractKentucky's wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop is planted into a rotation in which corn (Zea mays L.) is followed by wheat, which is followed by double‐crop soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, overwinters in corn stubble; thus, the Kentucky wheat crop is always at risk for FHB. The preeminent goal of the University of Kentucky wheat breeding program is releasing FHB‐resistant winter wheat cultivars. ‘Pembroke 2021’ (Reg. no. CV‐1198, PI 701381) is an early‐maturing, semi‐dwarf, soft red winter wheat cultivar developed and released in 2020 by the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station for FHB resistance, high yield and test weight potential, and lodging resistance. Pembroke 2021, tested as KY 07C‐1145‐94‐12‐5, was developed from the cross ‘IL99‐15867’/B990081//KY97C‐0554‐04‐05. The pedigree of the KY parent is VA94‐54‐549/Roane//Kristy. Pembroke 2021 was named for the Pembroke silt loam soil series prevalent in the main wheat‐producing area of Kentucky. Pembroke 2021 was selected from F4:5 head rows using a modified bulk breeding method; selected rows carried the resistance allele at the following FHB resistance quantitative trait loci: 1B Jamestown, 1A Neuse, 4A Neuse, and 3B Massey. Pembroke 2021 was tested in Kentucky in multi‐location replicated yield trials, the Uniform Eastern Soft Red Winter Wheat Nursery, the Mason‐Dixon nursery, the Uniform Northern Winter Wheat Scab Nursery, and the Kentucky Wheat Variety Trial.

“Barani Sarsoon” A Novel Combination of Enviable Genetic Characters of Rapeseed for Rainfed Areas

The development of new crop varieties is a continuous process as old cultivars become susceptible to various biotic and abiotic stresses, thus decreasing the yield potential. The newly developed rapeseed variety “Barani Sarsoon” a high-yielding, disease resistant and drought tolerant has been developed through the selection method of breeding from the exotic material. A promising progeny of a single plant was selected and named “14CBN009”. The performance of “14CBN009” was further evaluated along with standard varieties in various replicated yield trials for six years from 2014-15 to 2018-19. The selected line “14CBN009” produced a higher grain yield (kg/ha) than the standard varieties in all replicated yield trials with a yield potential of 3378 kg/hectare which is tolerant to drought and resistant to diseases. The best sowing time for this variety is from 25th September to 15th October with a seed rate of 2.50 kg/acre. The seed contains 44.53% oil content. The main yield contributing characters of “14CBN009” are pods per plant, seeds per pod and thousand-seed weight. Based on the desirable phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, higher grain yield and oil content percentage, “14CBN009” was approved as a rapeseed variety with the name of “Barani Sarsoon” by the Punjab Seed Council in its 55th meeting held on Sep 20, 2021, for commercial cultivation in the Punjab rainfed areas. Due to high yielding, drought and disease-tolerant characteristics, the new variety “Barani Sarsoon” will prove to be a good alternative to existing varieties and improve the production and income of the oilseed crops growers of the rainfed area.

Registration of ‘CP 14‐1490’ sugarcane

Abstract‘CP 14‐1490’ (Reg. no. CV‐212, PI 700785), a sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp) cultivar, was developed through cooperative research conducted by the USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugar Cane League, Inc. The Florida Sugarcane Variety Committee released CP 14‐1490 in June 2021 to growers for commercial cultivation on organic (muck) soils. It originated from a cross made at Canal Point (CP) on 29 Nov. 2011, where ‘CP 04‐1844’ (PI 664935) was the female parent, and the male parent was ‘CPCL 02‐8021’. CP 14‐1490 was released for its high sugar yields; acceptable commercial recoverable sucrose (though it had significantly lower cane yield at the second ratoon); resistances to Sugarcane mosaic virus strain E (mosaic) and ratoon stunt disease (caused by Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli Davis et al.); moderate resistances to brown [caused by Puccinia melanocephala (H. & P. Sydow)] and orange rusts [caused by Puccinia kuehnii (Kruger) E. Butler], and leaf scald [caused by Xanthomonas albilineans (Ashby) Dowson]; and moderate susceptibility to smut [caused by Sporisorium scitamineum (Syd., M. Piepenbr., M. Stoll & Oberw)]. Yield data of CP 14‐1490 and reference checks (i.e., ‘CP 00‐1101’ [PI 651881], ‘CP 96‐1252’ [PI 634935], ‘CPCL 05‐1201’ [PI 672485]) 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. There was no significant difference in cane yield with all tested reference checks and no significant difference in sugar yield with CP 00‐1101 and CPCL 05‐1201. When compared to CP 96‐1252, CP 14‐1490 had significantly (P ≤ .05) higher sucrose yield (19.2%) and commercial recoverable sucrose (5%). CP 14‐1490 rated moderately tolerant to freezing among 23 tested genotypes.

Registration of ‘CP 14‐1934’ sugarcane for Florida organic soils

Abstract‘CP 14‐1934’ (Reg. no. CV‐210, PI 700310) sugarcane cultivar, a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp., was developed through cooperative research of the USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugarcane League. The Florida Sugarcane Variety Committee released CP 14‐1934 in June 2021 for commercial cultivation on organic (muck) soil. CP 14‐1934 originates from a cross CPX11‐1041 between CP 07‐2460 (female parent) and CP 06‐2335 (male parent). CP 14‐1934 was released due to its high cane yield; high sucrose yields; acceptable commercial recoverable sucrose; and resistance to brown rust (tested positive to Bru1 marker), orange rust, sugarcane mosaic virus strain E (mosaic), and ratoon stunting disease. CP 14‐1934 was found moderately resistant to leaf scald and to have intermediate freeze tolerance. Based on results of three harvests cycles over five locations in final‐stage replicated yield trials (Stage 4) on muck soils, CP 14‐1934 cane and sucrose yields were 17.8 and 19.8% greater than the mean of reference cultivars, respectively. CP 14‐1934 rarely flowers in Florida's climate. The new released cultivar CP 14‐1934 is expected to increase the profitability and the efficiency in the use of resources of Florida sugarcane growers.

Effect of a low seed lignin content on seed yield and quality in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

AbstractIncreasing demand for vegetable oil and protein requires breeding efforts to enhance the yield of oilseed rape. This can be achieved by reducing seed cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content. The objective of the study was to analyse seed yield and important agronomic traits of two distinct bulks of genotypes from two crosses, with low (6%) and high seed lignin content (10%). The two genotype bulks were formed by mixing seeds of 12 doubled haploid lines with either low or high lignin content. The genotypes were selected from two large doubled haploid populations based on lignin content, flowering time and plant height. The bulks were field‐tested in replicated yield trials. Seed quality analysis confirmed significant differences in seed lignin content between the two bulks. Seed oil content was moderately higher in the low lignin bulks of both crosses. Seed, oil and protein yield in both crosses were moderately to significantly higher in the low lignin bulks. Further breeding for reduced fibre content will help increase seed oil and protein content.

Marker-assisted introgression of genes into rye translocation leads to the improvement in bread making quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Introgression of genes from related species can be a powerful way to genetically improve crop yields, but selection for one trait can come at the cost to others. Wheat varieties with translocation of the short arm of chromosome 1 from the B genome of wheat (1BS) with the short arm of chromosome 1 from rye (1RS) are popular globally for their positive effect on yield and stress resistance. Unfortunately, this translocation (1BL.1RS) is also associated with poor bread making quality, mainly due to the presence of Sec-1 on its proximal end, encoding secalin proteins, and the absence of Glu-B3/Gli-B1-linked loci on its distal end, encoding low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS). The present study aims to replace these two important loci on the 1RS arm with the wheat 1BS loci, in two popular Indian wheat varieties, PBW550 and DBW17, to improve their bread-making quality. Two donor lines in the cultivar Pavon background with absence of the Sec-1 locus and presence of the Glu-B3/Gli-B1 locus, respectively, were crossed and backcrossed with these two selected wheat varieties. In the advancing generations, marker assisted foreground selection was done for Sec-1- and Glu-B3/Gli-B1+ loci while recurrent parent recovery was done with the help of SSR markers. BC2F5 and BC2F6 near isosgenic lines (NILs) with absence of Sec-1 and presence of Glu-B3/Gli-B1 loci were evaluated for two years in replicated yield trials. As a result of this selection, thirty promising lines were generated that demonstrated improved bread making quality but also balanced with improved yield-related traits compared to the parental strains. The study demonstrates the benefits of using marker-assisted selection to replace a few loci with negative effects within larger alien translocations for crop improvement.

Registration of ‘Hardy 2519’ wheat

Abstract‘Hardy 2519’ (Reg. no. CV‐1189, PI 692613), a hard red winter (HRW) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, was derived from the cross VA06HRW‐108 × ‘Vision 30’ (PI 661153) using a modified bulk breeding method. Hardy 2519 was tested as VA14HRW‐25 in replicated yield trials in Virginia (2015–2018) and in the USDA‐ARS Uniform Bread Wheat Trials (2016–2018) and released by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station in 2019. Hardy 2519 is a widely adapted, high‐yielding HRW wheat with 2*, 5+10 gluten subunits. Hardy 2519 is awned, semidwarf (Rht 2 gene) with medium spike emergence, resistant to leaf rust, and moderately resistant to powdery mildew in the mid‐Atlantic region. In the Virginia Bread Wheat Elite Trials from 2018 to 2020, Hardy 2519 produced a mean yield of 5,393 kg ha–1, which was similar to that of the HRW wheat cultivar ‘Vision 45’ (PI 667642) at 5,267 kg ha–1. Hardy 2519 has acceptable milling and baking quality on the basis of comparisons with the HRW wheat check cultivar ‘Jagger’.

World’s first black-seeded high yielding mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] varieties ‘NIFA Sikaram-21 and NIFA Spinghar-21’

Globally, black-seeded mungbean is cultivated only in Kuram area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) of Pakistan and adjacent areas of Afghanistan. The black-seeded mungbean land-race being cultivated in the area since unknown dates had poor genetic back-ground, and hence, low yield potential and susceptibility to diseases. In order to develop high yielding shiny black-seeded mungbean varieties for Kuram, a cross was attempted between a local Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV) susceptible land-race collected from Kuram and later named as Kuram black mung (KBM) and an MYMV resistant black mottled-seeded mutant named as NIFA black mung (NBM) in the kharif season 2014 at the Nuclear Institute for Food & Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar. The F1 generation was planted in spring 2015. The F2 to F5 generations were raised in kharif 2016 – spring 2019. Single plants and lines based on shiny black seed coat color, short and medium plant stature, MYMV resistance and high grain yield were selected. Elite short and medium statured lines NBM-2-2-4-5 (NIFA Sikaram-21) and NBM-5-3-7 (NIFA Spinghar-21), respectively, were selected and tested in replicated yield trials along with black-seeded parents and green-seeded check varieties at NIFA and other locations in Kuram. On an average, NIFA Sikaram-21 produced seed yield of 1716 kg ha-1 and NIFA Spinghar-21 1724 kg ha-1 against KBM (880 kg ha-1) with 94% increase over KBM. However, its yield was lower than those of the green-seeded checks as green-seeded mungbean is well adapted to the growing conditions. Shiny black seeds, bold seed size and high grain yield are the distinguishing characters of NIFA Sikaram-21 and NIFA Spinghar-21. Furthermore, these are the first-ever black-seeded mungbean approved varieties in the world. The Provincial Seed Council of the KP approved both varieties in its 40th meeting held on April 07, 2021.

선씀바귀 육성품종 ‘속새원’의 재배 및 품질특성

Background: Ixeris strigosa is a perennial plant of the Asteraceae family that grows along road-sides and in meadows. Limited breeding and cultivation research has been performed, and there are no cultivars. Therefore, we conducted breeding studies to develop a new cultivar with a high yield and high antioxidant content.BRMethods and Results: In 2012, we successfully crossed a ‘Seosanjaerae’ (female parent) and ‘Geumsanjaerae’ (male parent). In 2015, we selected the best lines from the offspring. In 2018, we conducted replicated yield trials (RYT). In 2019, we performed local adaptability tests (LAT). The ‘Soksaewon’ line has beneficial characteristics, including increased plant height, number of leaves, root diameter, and fresh root weight when compared with ‘Seosanjaerae’ (a parental cultivar). The cultivar also exhibited increased total polyphenol, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity, and luteolin-7-glucoside. In 2019, the cultivar was successfully grown in three different regions. In all regions, the dried root yield was 1,869 kg per acre, representing a 119% yield increase when compared to ‘Seosanjaerae’.BRConclusions: In 2020, we have developed a new cultivar, ‘Soksewon’ which is high yielding with a high antioxidant content.

Utility of unmanned aerial systems for measuring plant height and plant vigor among several Georgia runner peanut cultivars

AbstractStand establishment, early‐season seedling vigor, and mid‐season canopy closure ensure peanut growers’ timely achievement of a vigorous crop that can resist weeds, take advantage of available moisture and nutrients, and produce optimal yield. Direct measurement of these traits is prohibitively time consuming in large breeding trials and nurseries. Estimations based on visual ratings are rapid but require extensive training and experience for reliable data. Technological improvements in camera and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has made them a practical and beneficial tool for plant breeders. This study evaluated the use of UAS for measuring plant growth‐related traits in a replicated yield trial of 16 Georgia runner‐type peanut cultivars. Flights were conducted at similar times with ground measurements and visual ratings of seedling and mid‐season plant vigor at the University of Georgia's Gibbs Research Farm in Tifton, GA, from 2019 to 2021. High correlations and similar ranks were seen between UAS‐derived and manual measurements for plant height among cultivars evaluated at mid‐season and late‐season (r2 = 0.95 and 0.75, respectively). For early‐season vigor evaluations, moderate correlations were achieved (r2 = 0.11–0.41), however, high correlations and similar results were evident comparing UAS‐derived mid‐season growth characteristics and visual vigor ratings (r2 = 0.75–0.86). Given the affordability and efficiency of data collection, UAS‐based phenotyping provides a promising and powerful tool for high throughput peanut breeding programs.

Registration of ‘CP 13‐1223’ sugarcane for Florida organic soils

Abstract‘CP 13‐1223’ (Reg. no. CV‐204, PI 698176) sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) was released to growers in June 2020 for producing on muck soils in Florida. It was developed through a decade‐long cooperative research program between the USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida Everglades Research and Education Center, and the Florida Sugar Cane League, Inc. This cultivar resulted from a poly‐cross made at the USDA‐ARS Canal Point (CP) Sugarcane Field Station. CP 13‐1223 was released because of its high commercial recoverable sucrose (CRS) and stalk weight, and demonstrated acceptable levels of cane and sucrose yields on muck soils. CP 13‐1223 has resistance to orange rust, leaf scald, Sugarcane mosaic virus strain E, ratoon stunt disease, and smut, and moderate resistance to brown rust. Based on results from 13 harvests across replicated yield trials at five locations, CP 13‐1223 performed 29.6 and 9.5% higher in CRS and stalk weight, respectively, than the check cultivar ‘CP 96‐1252’. It did not differ significantly from CP 96‐1252 in either cane yield, sucrose yield, or economic profitability. CP 13‐1223 is considered to have moderate tolerance to freezing in field tests.

Registration of ‘CP 13‐4100’ sugarcane

Abstract‘CP 13‐4100’ (Reg. no. CV‐202, PI 698546) sugarcane cultivar (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) was developed through cooperative research conducted by the USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugar Cane League, Inc. The Florida Sugarcane Variety Committee (FSVC) released CP 13‐4100 in June 2020 to growers for commercial cultivation on mineral (sand) soils. It originated from a polycross made at Canal Point (CP) on 3 Dec. 2008 where CP 96‐1252 was the female parent and the male parent was unknown and could be any one of genotypes used in the polycross. CP 13‐4100 was released by FSVC for its high cane and sucrose yields, acceptable commercial recoverable sucrose, and resistances to orange rust, leaf scald, Sugarcane mosaic virus strain E (mosaic), and smut, and acceptable levels of susceptibility to brown rust. CP 13‐4100 and commercial reference checks (i.e., CL 88‐4730, CP 96‐1252, CPCL 97‐2730) yield data were collected from 12 harvests (i.e. three crop cycles—plant cane, first, and second ratoon—at four sand‐soil locations) in final‐stage replicated yield trials. Compared with CL 88‐4730 and CPCL 97‐2730, CP 13‐4100 had significantly (P ≤ .0001) higher cane yield (tonnes of cane per hectare: 18.7 and 29.5%), sucrose yield (tonnes of sugar per hectare: 26.3 and 30.7%), and economic index (EI; 10.9–16.9%) and no significant differences from CP 96‐1252 in these traits. CP 13‐4100 tested negative for the Bru1 marker, which is linked to a quantitative major locus of brown rust resistance. CP 13‐4100 could be considered moderately tolerant to freezing among 23 tested genotypes.

Registration of ‘Lightning’ barley

Abstract‘Lightning’ (Reg. no. CV‐374, PI 698654), experimental designation DH130910, is a two‐row facultative barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) released by Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station in 2020. It was bred for fall planting and is well adapted to the U.S. Pacific Northwest and New York State. Because it does not require vernalization for a timely vegetative to reproductive transition, Lightning can be planted in the spring and will flower and mature in a similar time frame as spring growth habit cultivars. Lightning is a doubled haploid produced via anther culture and was advanced through fall‐planted trials from 2013 to 2019. Facultative growth habit was validated in unreplicated trials in multiple years; replicated yield trial data are available for 2020. Lightning was developed with the goal of commercial production as a malting cultivar. It was tested in the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) Pilot Program, but it is not on the AMBA recommended list, due to unsatisfactory quality when malted using standard protocols. Because Lightning will produce excellent malt with adjustments to malting protocol, it was released as a cultivar based on its potential for malting and based on its yield and test weight advantage over check cultivars ‘Endeavor’ and ‘Wintmalt’. Furthermore, it has broad‐spectrum disease resistance (moderate to high resistance to scald, stripe rust, powdery mildew, net blotch, and Fusarium head blight).