Evaluation location: Mississippi, United States
Accessions were evaluated for descriptive characteristics, agronomic performance, and seed composition in Stoneville, Mississippi (Lat. 33o 26' N). Accession ranges included were FC 30.267 to PI 567.181B in maturity group VII and FC 31.592 to PI 567.235B in maturity group VIII. Also included were cultivars in the same maturity group that were developed at public institutions in the United States and Canada and released by 1991. The evaluation was planted on May 10, 1994 and May 23-24, 1995. In 1994, yield was much greater and seed quality much higher than in 1995. The total rainfall during each growing season was not significantly different but rainfall during the grain filling period was much greater in 1994 than in 1995. Some supplemental irrigation was required in both years. The test was replicated once per year. Plots were four rows wide, with rows 3.6 m long and 91 cm between rows. The evaluation was blocked by maturity group. Only the center two rows of each plot were harvested for yield. Plots were not end trimmed at maturity so yield values reported here slightly overestimate the actual yield. Based on data collected in these evaluations, maturity groups for some accessions were changed from those reported in earlier publications. The seed and oil composition data were collected at the USDA Northern Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, IL. Protein and oil percentages for lines with yellow seed coats were obtained using infrared instrumentation (NIR). Composition percentages for those with colored or very heavily mottled seed coats were obtained with the Kjeldahl procedure for protein and Butt extraction for oil. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas-liquid chromatography.