CHARACTERIZATION OF NEW SPECIALTY SOYBEAN GERMPLASM FROM CHINA.

A USDA/OICD sponsored agricultural research team visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1990 to gather information regarding soybean utilization and to increase genetic diversity of the soybean crop through new germplasm collections. A total of 25 new soybean accessions were collected and brought to the Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA, one of the OICD sponsored team participants. In accordance with the U.S. policy on the New Germplasm Collection, part of the seed of each accession was sent in original packs to USDA Soybean Germplasm Collections, University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill. Limited seed increase was done in the greenhouse and one 10m long observational row of each accession was grown at VSU Research Station in 1991. Seed traits, plant agronomic characteristics, insect pest, and disease pathogen reactions were observed and documented. Chemical analysis for nutritional quality, antinutritional factors, and biochemical components of green seeds and pods at R-7 stage and mature seeds of each accession are underway and those values will be compared with existing commercial cultivars, advanced breeding lines, and plant introductions.