Narrative
USDA-N8002 is a determinate, conventional MG VIII soybean cultivar adapted to the Southern USA soybean growing regions. USDA-N8002 has purple flowers, gray pubescence, yellow seed coat, and buff hila. In 46 environments in the USDA Uniform Soybean Tests - Southern States from 2008-2012, USDA-N8002 yielded 3266 kg/ha, numerically greater than the transgenic MG VIII cultivar AGS 828RR (3219 kg/ha) and significantly (p<0.05) greater than the conventional MGVlll germplasm N8001 (3065 kg/ha) or the transgenic MGVlll check SC01-803 RR (2922 kg/ha). In these tests, USDA-N8002 (30) matured (Oct1 =1) significantly later than the checks AGS 828RR (26), N8001 (26) or SC01-803RR (28). In 11 environments of the USB Southern Diversity Yield Trials, USDA-N8002 (3444 kg/ha) yielded similar to its MG VII parent N7002 (3426 kg/ha) and significantly greater than its MG VII grandparent N7001 (3216 kg/ha). In 7 environments of the same tests, USDA-N8002 (32) matured significantly later than N7001 (27), N7002 (27), Woodruff (29), or N8001 (28). USDA-N8002 was visually rated for canopy wilting in three environments. At Athens, GA in 2008, USDA-N8002 (2.5) wilted significantly less than check lines NC-Roy (3.5) or Prichard (3.9) and numerically less than N7002 (3.1) or NC-Raleigh (2.9). At Jackson Springs, NC, in 2010, USDA-N8002 (2.2) wilted significantly less than NC-Roy (3 .2), N7002 (2.6), NC-Raleigh (2.5), or Prichard (2.5). At Jackson Springs, NC, in 2013, USDA-N8002 (2.4) wilted significantly less than Woodruff (3 .1 ), Prichard (3.0), or N8001 (3.4). USDA-N8002 was significantly (p<0.05) more resistant to manganese deficiency (2.4) than Cook (4 .2), N8001 (3.5), or NC-Raleigh (3.8), but numerically less resistant than the resistant control breeding line SC97-1821 (1 .9). USDA-N8002 (0.0) showed no incidence of pod dehiscence in 3 shatter prone environments, comparable to checks N7001 (0 .0), N7002 (0 .0), Woodruff (0 .0), or N8001 (0.0).