Ohio FG1 and Ohio FG2 Soybean Varieties

Special Circular 151-96

Agronomic Performance

Agronomic performance of selected entries in the Ohio LargeSeeded Test for 1991 to 1994 is shown Table 1. This test was conducted at two or three Ohio locations each year in order to evaluate released and potential food grade varieties. Grain-type varieties were included in the test for further comparisons. These tests were conducted in a 15-inch row spacing beginning in 1992. Row spacing was 30 inches in 1991.

In these tests, Ohio FG1 and Ohio FG2 matured later than 'Burlison' (late maturity group II) and at the same date as 'Resnik' (mid-maturity group III) or slightly earlier (Table 1). Both new varieties were somewhat more susceptible to lodging than the best grain-type varieties, but both showed less lodging than Vinton 81. Ohio FG1 had more lodging resistance than Ohio FG2 and Beeson 80. Ohio FG2 had the largest seed of any entry, with Ohio FG1 ranked second.

Yields of Ohio FG1 and Ohio FG2 averaged about 15% greater than those of Beeson 80 and Vinton 81 but about 9% less than the maturity-group III, grain-type varieties Resnik. 'Thorne', and 'Flyer' (table 1). The yield advantage of the new food grade varieties over Beeson 80 and Vinton 81 was 3 to 5 bu/a at Lakeview (Auglaize Co.), 8 to 14 bu/a at South Charleston (Clark Co.), and 5 to 10 bu/a at Hoytville (Wood Co.). In the test at Columbus in 1991, under severe drought stress, the yield advantage was 4 to 5 bu/a. Mean yields of Ohio FG1 and Ohio FG2 were similar to or slightly less than those of maturity-group II grain-type varieties 'Conrad' and 'Champion' and the high-protein variety Burlison.

In the Ohio Advanced Line Test B in 1993, Ohio FG2 matured at the same time as 'Pella 86' (Table 2). It was more susceptable to lodging than most other entries and slightly taller than entries of similar maturity. The mean yield of Ohio FG2 in this test was similar to that of Resnik and Thorne, showing a significant advantage at Hoytville but a disadvantage at Mt. Orab (Brown Co.). Overall, Ohio FG2 outyielded Pella 86, Williams 82, and Edison in this one-year test, but was outranked by 'Charleston', 'Probst', and 'Ripley'. Row spacings in this test were 30 inches at Wooster and Hoytville, 15 inches at the remaining sites.

The performance of Ohio FG2 in a regional test is shown in Table 3. This test was conducted at nine locations in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio in 1993. In this test, Ohio FG2 matured two later than Resnik and 5 days ealier than Flyer. It was more susceptable to lodging than the grain-type check varieties but intermediate in plant height and visual seed quality score. Seed weight of Ohio FG2 was much greater than the checks. I yield, Resnik and Flyer had a 2 to 4 bu/a advantage over the food-grade variety, but Ohio FG2 yielded 1.2 bu/a more than 'IA2007', the group II check. Ohio FG2 was similar to Resnik and Flyer in protein content and slightly higher in oil content (Table 3).

Seedlings of a few varieties, such as Zane, develop a short hypocotyl at 25 degrees C (77 degrees F), which may result in poor emergence when planted deep. Results of a deep-planted emergence test are shown in Table 4. Ohio FG2 had a good emergence (78%), but Ohio FG1's emergence was low (15%). similar to Vinton 81 and Beeson 80. It should be noted that this deep-planted emergence test measures only hypocotyl elongation and that other factors, such as germination percentage, seedling vigor, and the ability to emerge from a crusted soil are probably more important than hypocotyl elongation in obtaining a satisfactory stand. In general, emergence problems are more likely to occur with large-seeded varieties than with other varieties. Use of high-quality seed and management of the seedbed to to avoid crusting should reduce the probability of stand problems.