Introduction

Over 20 engineered crops are now being commercialized and quickly brought to market. Farmers have their choice of a list of herbicide-, insect-, and disease-resistant hybrids and varieties, and the numbers are certain to increase rapidly over the next several years with more crop introductions and "stacking" of multiple characteristics within crops. While transgenic seed introductions in the major field crops (corn, soybeans, cotton, and potatoes) have taken the early lead, specialty crops in fruits, vegetables, and forages are not far behind. Major agribusinesses such as Novartis, Monsanto, Dekalb, and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, are putting the full efforts of their research and marketing programs into engineered crops to ensure their success in the market place. Some of this information was obtained from an article in "AgConsultant" Magazine (Seed Scorecard, J. C. Sulecki and B. Kantz, 11/96, pp.4-7). The following is a description of what to expect with engineered soybeans over the next few years.

Roundup Ready Soybeans

Roundup Ready soybeans, introduced in 1996, contain built-in resistance to postemergence applications of glyphosate, and allow control of a broad spectrum of weeds and grasses from crop emergence through full flowering. The Roundup Ready gene increases a crop's amount of EPSP synthase, an enzyme essential to plant growth but inhibited by glyphosate. Growers must sign a license agreement to apply only Roundup Ultra, pay a $5-per-bag technology fee, and not plant bin-run seed. Special care must be taken to mitigate drift and apply Roundup only to resistant fields. About 8 million acres are expected to be planted in 1997. Some yield reductions in RR-beans have been reported, especially in the Mid-West, but such reports are not consistent. Monsanto is in a position to control approximately 80% of the Roundup Ready market.

STS Soybeans

Introduced in 1993, sulfonylurea-tolerant soybeans (STS) are traditionally bred to withstand over-the-top applications of such herbicides as Classic, Pinnacle, Reliance, Synchrony, and Concert. A wide variety of problem broadleaf weeds can be sprayed and controlled from the first trifoliate up to 60 days prior to harvest. STS soybeans carry the Als1 gene, which enhances the variety's natural tolerance to sulfonylurea. About 6 to 8 million acres are expected to be planted in 1997, and Asgrow holds approximately 50% market share. Yields are comparable to or higher (an average of 2 to 3 bushels per acre) than traditional varieties.

Other Soybean Technologies

Other traits will be 'stacked' into the major soybean lines now available. For instance, in 1997 Pioneer expects to have Roundup Ready soybeans with nematode cyst resistance, and Asgrow plans to introduce two new Roundup Ready traits. The Liberty Link trait likely will be extended to soybeans by 1998, probably with even better weed control than in corn because soybeans canopy more quickly. Varieties developed for specific feed, food, and industrial uses - with such traits as high oil and high protein-are in the works. At Pioneer, research into animal nutrition will be a key emphasis over the next several years.

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