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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #95133
Title: REGISTRATION OF 'CROTON 3.9' SOYBEAN

Author
item Cooper, Richard
item Martin, Ronald
item ST MARTIN, S - OARDC/OSU
item CALIP-DUBOIS, A - OARDC/OSU
item FIORITTO, R - OARDC/OSU
item SCHMITTHENNER, A - OARDC/OSU

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Broadly adapted soybean varieties, selected for shorter plant height to improve resistance to lodging (falling over) in high yield environments, often are too short for good yield on moisture deficient soils. To overcome this problem, a breeding program was initiated at Wooster, OH in 1979 to develop tall, high yielding varieties with specific adaptation to stress (primarily moisture deficient) environments. These varieties would be recommended only for stress environments where lodging is seldom a problem. Croton 3.9, released September 1, 1997, is the second cultivar released from this program and is 6 days earlier in maturity than Stressland, the first variety released. Croton 3.9 has shown 10 to 20% higher yield than the more broadly adapted, shorter varieties when grown in moisture deficient environments. Planting of Croton 3.9 soybeans on soils to frequently be moisture deficient should significantly increase grower soybean yields on these soil types.

Technical Abstract: 'Croton 3.9' soybean [Glycine max (L)] was developed jointly by the USDA Agricultural Research Service and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. It was released September 1, 1997, as a tall, indeterminate cultivar with specific adaptation to stress (primarily moisture deficient) environments, where its vigorous vegetative growth results in adequate plant height for good yields. Croton 3.9 is a F4- erived line, originally designated as HC89-2232, from the cross of the semidwarf breeding line HC80-1944 x Asgrow 3127. Croton 3.9 has purple flowers, tawny pubescence, tan pods and dull yellow seed with black hilum. It is a Maturity Group III (relative maturity 3.9) cultivar adapted to the central Midwest. Compared to the more broadly adapted indeterminate cultivar, Macon, Croton is 1 day later in maturity, 10 cm taller and more susceptible to lodging. In marginal, moisture deficient environments, the taller 3.9 has averaged 10 to 20% greater seed yield. It has high tolerance to Phytophthora root rot (caused by Phytophthora sojae M. J. Kaufmann & J. W. Gerdemann).