News Releases

What:
New Soybean Germplasm Line To Be Released

Where:
The Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station
West Tennessee Research and Education Center
605 Airways Blvd.
Jackson, TN 38301
(731) 424-1643

When:
10 a.m. CDT, Thursday, September 29, 2005

Details:
The USDA Agricultural Research Service and the University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station will announce the release of an important new soybean germplasm that has the potential to increase farmers' income.

The new line – JTN-5303 – is characterized by high seed yields and high levels of resistance to multiple races of soybean cyst nematode (SCN). SCN is the most serious soybean pest in the United States. An infestation can reduce a field's yield by as much as 30 percent, with current estimates reducing American farmers' earnings by $500 million each year.

The soybean line, which was jointly developed by the USDA-ARS and UT Agricultural Experiment Station, is also highly resistant to potentially devastating and expensive fungal diseases including stem canker and frogeye leaf spot. It is moderately resistant to sudden death syndrome and experiences lower degrees of disease severity due to charcoal rot.

JTN-5303 is a maturity group V soybean that is well adapted to production in the Mid South and southeastern regions of the United States.

JTN-5303 seeds will be released for use by breeders in developing and commercializing new cultivars. They will be maintained by the USDA-ARS Crop Genetics & Production Research Unit in Jackson, Tenn., for five years. Small quantities of seed can be requested until supplies are exhausted.

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Technical Contacts:

Dr. P. R. Arelli
USDA-ARS Crop Genetics & Production Research Unit
Jackson, TN
(731) 425-4741, parelli@msa-stoneville.ars.usda.gov

Dr. Vince Pantalone
The University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences
Knoxville, TN
(865) 974-8801, vpantalo@utk.edu

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Members of the media who plan to attend the announcement are encouraged to contact a UTIA Media Relations Coordinator:

On-site: Chuck Denney, (865) 974-7141 or (865) 382-8058; cmdenney@utk.edu

In Knoxville: Patricia McDaniels, (865) 974-7141; pclark@utk.edu