Evaluation location: Mississippi, United States
Accessions in maturity group V, FC 30265 to PI 408435 (received by 1976) 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 1998 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 May 13, 1999 and April 27, 2001. Plants flowered an average of 15 days later and matured 2 days later in 1999 than in 2001. Plants were taller and yields were generally greater in 1999 than in 2001. 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).