Interrelationship of Sudden Death Syndrome and Important Agronomic Traits in a Recombinant Inbred Soybean Population.

Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are an important agronomic crop. However, they are susceptible to diseases such as sudden death syndrome (SDS). Understanding how SDS interacts with agronomic traits is vital in a breeding program. The objective of this study was to measure yield and important agronomic traits, such as maturity and lodging, and understand how they interact with disease resistance in a recombinant inbred line population (RIL) from the cross of ‘LS90-1920’ x ‘Spencer’ (n=94). The reaction of RIL and parental lines were evaluated for two years (2009 and 2010) in two environments in southern Illinois (Carbondale and Valmeyer). Yield and agronomic traits were collected in 2011 at two locations in southern Illinois (Dowell, and Harrisburg). Analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation test were used to detect any significant association between SDS reaction and yield or other traits. Results allowed us to identify lines that combine SDS resistance with competitive agronomic performance.