Plant breeders pave the way for soybean genetics

March 3, 2025 | Kriss Nelson

The journey of soy, from its use in bioplastics to animal feed and millions of other products, begins with the work of plant breeders.

Christie Wiebbecke, Ph.D., is the chief officer of research and conservation at the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). Prior to that role, she received her doctorate in plant breeding from Iowa State University, where she later worked with genomic selection and varietal development.

“As a soybean breeder, you are taught to think about how to get to an end use,” she says. “What does a farmer and the end user need from a soybean variety? Is it a certain protein level or oil profile? What agronomic traits? You have a vision of that ideal soybean.”

A plant breeder considers all of these as they begin to think about what parents will be selected to create a new soybean trait.

“The traditional way of breeding is picking two parents that have complimentary genetics,” says Wiebbecke. “Maybe one parent has the right agronomic package, is high yield and the other has increased oil content. A breeder takes those two parents, crosses them together and eventually grows a seed that becomes a population of different genetic combinations between those parents. Then a breeder utilizes different tools and techniques to find the ones with the right combination.”

In recent years, the use of predictive analytic models and genotyping has aided that process.

“Plant breeders can use genome selection to find the right combinations of genetics to select for traits of interest,” she says. “That is a tool in a breeder's toolbox where they can increase rate of genetic gain, loading the population with favorable combinations.”

Another piece of the plant breeding puzzle is confirming the phenotype.

“You can have the genetics, but what's important for the farmer or end user is to actually experience the phenotype the genetics say they should have,” says Wiebbecke. “A lot of what breeders do is to partner with plant pathologists, qualitive labs, where they are going to screen for oil content, protein content from a new use or an agronomic perspective.”

Collectively, this team screens soybeans to verify the breeder's claim of soybean cyst nematode resistance, ensuring the farmer gets what they expect in the field.

“All of that is very important, because what plant breeders care most about is the farmer or end user's experience with the variety,” says Wiebbecke. “They really try to marry the genotype and phenotype with that farmer and end user in mind.”

Predicting future soybean breeding needs

Successful soybean plant breeders must be in tune with farmer and industry needs. Wiebbecke believes Danny Singh, Ph.D., associate dean for research and discovery and associate director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experience Station for Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences upholds those standards.

“He is very passionate about talking to farmers and industry to learn about emerging needs. As a researcher, he is also talking to soybean breeders across industries and different academic areas and that gives him the foresight to not only think about what a farmer needs today, but five, seven or 10 years down the road,” Wiebbecke says.

Soybean trait development relies heavily on the soybean checkoff's funding of universities as well as private companies' plant breeding programs.

High oleic soybeans is just one example that comes to mind for Tim Bardole, Greene County farmer who serves as a director for the United Soybean Board.

“Without the checkoff dollars going toward research and development, we would be well behind where we are now,” says Bardole, a past ISA president. “Those higher yielding, specific trait soybeans not only give farmers a premium when grown, but also provide the end users with a quality product they need.”

Success depends on collaboration

Wiebbecke sees the plant breeder's creativity as particularly unique, but emphasizes that it’s a team effort.

“Plant breeders can create new crosses and envision what a new variety should be,” she says. “But without the support of plant pathologists, harvesters and a commercial team bringing those varieties to market, they wouldn’t be in the hands of growers.”

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