Black Pearl

Soybean

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'OAC Bayfield', 'OAC Wallace' and 'OAC Ginty'

Summary: The plants of 'Black Pearl' are taller than those of the reference varieties. The seeds of 'Black Pearl' have a black testa and a black hilum whereas the reference varieties have a yellow testa and a dark brown hilum. The seed shape for 'Black Pearl' is elongated flattened whereas it is spherical for 'OAC Ginty' and spherical flattened for 'OAC Bayfield' and 'OAC Wallace'. 'Black Pearl' matures earlier than 'OAC Ginty'.

Description:

PLANT: food grade type, indeterminate growth type, erect to semi-erect growth habit, tawny pubescence on middle third of main stem, early to medium time of flowering and maturity

HYPOCOTYL: very strong anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: no blistering, medium green, medium sized lateral leaflet, rounded ovate lateral leaflet

FLOWER: violet

POD: medium brown
SEED: large, elongated flattened, dull lustre, black ground colour of testa with a variant brown ground colour at a 1:20,000 frequency depending on environmental conditions
HILUM: black, funicle black, normal abscission layer

AGRONOMICS: 2750 heat unit rating

DISEASE REACTION: moderately resistant to moderately susceptible to Brown spot (Septoria glycines), moderately susceptible to pod and stem blight (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae) and very susceptible to Soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines).
PESTICIDE REACTION: resistant to Quilt Fungicide spray application at the R3 stage
QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS: 43.1 % protein, 20.2 % oil

Origin & Breeding History: 'Black Pearl' (experimental designation 'BB-01-97') was selected in 1997 as a mutated variant with a black seed coat in a commercial crop of the parental line 'S00-66' in Pembroke, Ontario. From 1998 to 2004, bulked populations were grown in Pembroke and plants were selected for a similar phenotype to the parental line. In each generation, seed was hand rogued and screened for a uniform black seed colour. From 2005 to 2008, small scale field increases were grown and each generation was assessed for morphological stability and uniformity as part of the mass selection criteria during the vegetative, reproductive and seed phases.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Black Pearl' were conducted in Pembroke, Ontario during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. There were 2 replicates per variety consisting of 1 row, which measured approximately 25 metres long. Rows were spaced approximately 75 cm apart. There were a total of 720 plants per replicate. The measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per variety.

Comparison tables for 'Black Pearl' with reference varieties 'OAC Bayfield', 'OAC Wallace' and 'OAC Ginty'

Plant height (cm)

Maturity Date (days)

Click on image for larger view

Soybean: 'Black Pearl' (bottom right) with reference varieties 'OAC Wallace' (bottom left), 'OAC Bayfield' (top left) and 'OAC Ginty' (top right)