Evaluation location: Mississippi, United States
Accessions in maturity group V, PI 416758 to PI 561398 (received between 1977 and 1991) were evaluated for descriptive characteristics, agronomic performance, and seed composition in Stoneville, Mississippi (Lat. 33o 26' N). Also included were cultivars in the same maturity groups, developed at public institutions in the United States and Canada, and released by 2001 and some accessions received earlier which had not been previously evaluated. All tests were replicated once per year. Plots were four rows wide, with rows 3.6 m long and 76 cm between rows. Only the center two rows of each plot were harvested for yield. All accessions were planted again in single rows in 2004 to verify plant descriptors. Planting dates were April 27, 2000 and May 14, 2002. Plants flowered an average of 25 days later and matured 7 days later in 2002 than in 2000. Plants were taller and yields were generally greater in 2002 than in 2000. Seed composition was analyzed at the USDA Northern Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, IL. Fatty acid composition was obtained by gas liquid chromatography of the methyl esters (Christie 1989; Bannon et al. 1982). Oil and protein for samples with yellow seed coats were analyzed using the near infrared method for whole-grain analysis (AACC Method 39-21). Protein concentrations for samples with colored or heavily mottled seed coats were obtained using the improved Kjeldahl method (AACC Method 46-16) and oil by the Butt Extraction method (AOCS Official Method Ac 3-44).