Scientists decode soybean genome | TheMedGuru

In what may be termed as a breakthrough discovery, scientists claim to have decoded the soybean crop that could pave way for improved crops of the protein rich plant.

With this experiment, soybean has become the first legume to be sequenced. Scientists are hopeful that the discovery is likely to help in a better yield as well as defend the plant against pesticides.

Read full article here> Scientists decode soybean genome TheMedGuru

Discovering soybean plants resistant to aphids and a new aphid

URBANA - This year farmers in the Midwest are growing a new variety of soybeans developed by University of Illinois researchers that has resistance to soybean aphids. However, in addition to the resistant plants, U of I researchers also discovered a new soybean aphid which is not controlled by this resistance. Read full article at CheckBiotech site>

Timing critical for double-crop soybeans

Jun 30, 2009 10:39 AM,
By Roy Roberson
Farm Press Editorial Staff

Growers still contemplating planting late-season beans should get them in the ground as soon as possible to avoid reductions in yield potential, according to Clemson University Agronomist Pawel Wiatrak.

Yield reduction has long been an issue for double-crop beans in the Upper Southeast. New varieties and the recent high prices for soybeans have helped growers attack yield drag in a positive way. The stakes are high in terms of increased production costs and reduced plant performance.

Wiatrak tested soybeans from Maturity Group IV through Maturity Group VIII at varying planting dates and says beans planted by May 20 produced the highest yields, regardless of Maturity Group. Not counting Maturity Group IV beans, which have not performed consistently well in the Clemson tests, beans planted from early to late-May consistently produced 55 bushels per acre and frequently topped 60 bushels per acre under dryland conditions.

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Step out of the ordinary veggie routine, try edamame

Saturday, June 27, 2009
By Karen Neill Special to the News & Record

My husband thought he had tasted almost all the vegetables that one could grow. After all, being married to a horticulturist, what would you expect?

We've planted a garden of tomatoes, beans and squash, but as I like to experiment, I've recently tried many of the Asian vegetables and some new, unusual cultivars.

There are some he likes, some he despises and others he tolerates, if cooked a certain way.
But this weekend in the frozen food section of the grocery store, he discovered a vegetable we haven't grown -- edamame.

In fact, I have talked with a number of folks who have never heard of edamame.

With a little help from the National Gardening Bureau, I encourage you to think about these wonderful plants for next year's garden.

This ancient Asian vegetable is growing in popularity in America. In Japan, the pods are popped open and eaten out of hand as we would eat peanuts out of the shell -- the perfect accompaniment to a frosty glass of beer, or so I told him. I have seen them planted in snacking gardens on school grounds for the kids to pick and eat while in the garden.

Edamame translates as "beans on branches." The plants produce bunches of beans on well-branched, shrubby plants.

Unlike regular soybeans which dry on the plant, edamame pods are picked before they ripen. Each pod contains two or three delicious beans with a sweet, nutty flavor that appeals to children and adults.

Edamame, (Glycine max), is really just a soybean, albeit a specialty soybean. Records indicate its use in China (known there as mao dou) more than 2,200 years ago. From China, it was introduced to Japan, where it was consumed for centuries before it was documented in the 927 A.D. Engishiki. This guide about trade in agricultural commodities depicts the fresh soy bean pods as offerings in Buddhist temples

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Syngenta Licenses Chromatin Gene Stacking Technology for Sugar Cane

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide research and commercial license agreement for Chromatin's proprietary gene stacking technology in sugar cane.

Chromatin has developed a novel approach to gene stacking, using the plant's own DNA to deliver several genes. Under this agreement, Syngenta has obtained exclusive rights to use Chromatin's stacking technology for trait genes in all members of the genus Saccharum which includes commercial sugar cane varieties as well as energy cane, and crosses between Saccharum and other plant species. Syngenta obtained non-exclusive rights for use of this stacking technology in corn and soybean in 2007.

Sugar cane is among the top crops grown today for use in sugar production and biofuels. Syngenta offers a broad range of crop protection products for sugar cane growers and is developing a novel planting technology planned for launch in 2010 under the brand name Plene(TM) that will help reduce production costs. New trait combinations in sugar cane could offer growers additional improvements in production efficiency and yield increases.

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Syngenta Licenses Chromatin Gene Stacking Technology for Sugar Cane: "Syngenta Licenses Chromatin Gene Stacking Technology for Sugar Cane

And Now, the Rest of the World

Posted:
June 15, 2009 06:00 AM PDT
AGnet NEWS

Macomb, IL(WIU Ag Dept.)- As we see corn and soybean plants growing, on their journey to harvest, it is easy to forget that millions of corn and soybean acres outside of both Illinois and the United States are also starting on that journey.

The US produces not quite half of the world's corn. China is the world's second leading producer, but their total corn production is only about half of the US. As much corn is grown in Brazil as in Europe, but Brazilian exports are 5 times larger. This season, production in the US and Europe will be down slightly from previous years. However, it is what is happening in the US that is key to world corn prices. Most of the US corn crop remains here - about 40% is used to feed livestock, another 40% is used for food and industrial purposes, including ethanol, and the remaining corn is available for export. While exports take a relatively small amount of the US corn crop, those export amounts are extremely important to the world. Over the past several years, US corn has provided nearly 60% of the world's corn exports. In large part, it is US corn that drives world markets.

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St. Louis students learning agriculture to plant urban farm with Science Center's help

By Associated Press
4:02 AM CDT, June 18, 2009

ST. LOUIS (AP) — They may be city kids, but a group of St. Louis students are creating a farm.The youths, who are members of Future Farmers of America, will plant their urban farm outside the St. Louis Science Center.Crops to be planted Thursday include corn, cotton, soybeans and tomatoes. Vegetables harvested from the farm will be donated to St. Louis-area food banks.The students from Clyde C. Miller Academy will plant the crops with help from the St. Louis Science Center and representatives from biotech business Monsanto.The urban farm will also be used during the Science Center's "SciFest" event in October, when programs will be given on farming and plant science.

P.S.I.

Video from Prudue University - Are my soybeans wearing different genes?