Evaluating Root Architecture and Drought Tolerance in Soybean.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important crop both agriculturally and industrially.  Environmental factors such as drought can have a large negative impact on soybean yields and many soybean growing regions are predicted to have decreased rainfall over the next 50 years.  To combat this problem, soybean plants need to be developed with high tolerances to low moisture levels.   This study aims to identify extreme soybean root phenotypes across a wide range of genotypes and evaluate these roots on root morphology and growth patterns.  Thus far, over 800 genotypes have been screened in a series of complementary greenhouse and field studies and eight genotypes have been selected (4 slow rooters and 4 fast rooters) as parental lines to produce an F1 population.  Continued screening of soybean genotypes and utilization of the F1 crosses will help us to learn more about how root characteristics are inherited to help us develop more tolerant soybean plants.