Abstract: A method is provided for use in analyzing seeds, in a population of seeds, for one or more desired characteristic. The method includes removing tissue from individual seeds in a population of seeds using an automated seed sampler, while preserving germination viability of the seeds, and analyzing the tissue for the presence or absence of one or more desired characteristic. The method then includes, based on the analysis of the tissue, quantifying the one or more desired characteristic for each of the individual seeds that possess the one or more desired characteristic.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in a plant breeding program to generate a population having one or more desired traits. The method includes removing a tissue sample from each of one or more seeds using an automated seed sampler while preserving germination viability of the sampled seeds; analyzing the tissue samples for the presence or absence of a genetic sequence associated with at least one desired trait; based on the analysis of the tissue samples, cultivating plants from the sampled seeds that either possess or lack the genetic sequence associated with the at least one desired trait; creating a parental cross using at least one of the cultivated plants; and selecting seeds from the parental cross and cultivating offspring of the parental cross using the selected seeds.

Abstract: An automated method for removing tissue from a seed is provided. The automated method includes singulating a seed from a plurality of seeds and imaging the singulated seed to obtain at least one characteristic of the seed. The automated method further includes positioning the singulated seed in a sampler of an automated seed sampling assembly and removing, by the sampler, tissue from the singulated seed based on the at least one characteristic of the seed.

Abstract: A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant by the use of direct nucleic acid sequence information. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of preferred nucleic acid sequences in the germplasm of a breeding population of plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant by the use of direct nucleic acid sequence information. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of preferred nucleic acid sequences in the germplasm of a breeding population of plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant by the use of direct nucleic acid sequence information. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of preferred nucleic acid sequences in the germplasm of a breeding population of plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to breeding methods to enhance the germplasm of a plant. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of preferred haplotype genomic regions in the germplasm of breeding populations of maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max). The invention also relates to maize and soybean plants comprising preferred haplotypes.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of transgenes and favorable haplotype genomic regions in the germplasm of a breeding population of crop plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of transgenes and favorable haplotype genomic regions in the germplasm of a breeding population of crop plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of transgenes and favorable haplotype genomic regions in the germplasm of a breeding population of crop plants.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in a plant breeding program to generate a population having one or more desired traits. The method includes removing a tissue sample from each of one or more seeds using an automated seed sampler while preserving germination viability of the sampled seeds; analyzing the tissue samples for the presence or absence of a genetic sequence associated with at least one desired trait; based on the analysis of the tissue samples, cultivating plants from the sampled seeds that either possess or lack the genetic sequence associated with the at least one desired trait; creating a parental cross using at least one of the cultivated plants; and selecting seeds from the parental cross and cultivating offspring of the parental cross using the selected seeds.

Abstract: Novel methods are provided to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. A method for introgressive hybridization, for example, generally includes removing tissue samples from individual seeds using an automated seed sampler without affecting germination viability of the seeds, and analyzing nucleic acids extracted from the tissue samples for at least one genetic marker. The method then further includes selecting the sampled seeds that possess the at least one genetic marker, cultivating fertile plants from the selected seeds, and crossing the fertile plants with other plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant by the use of direct nucleic acid sequence information. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of preferred nucleic acid sequences in the germplasm of a breeding population of plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of transgenes and favorable haplotype genomic regions in the germplasm of a breeding population of crop plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of transgenes and favorable haplotype genomic regions in the germplasm of a breeding population of crop plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides breeding methods and compositions to enhance the germplasm of a plant by the use of direct nucleic acid sequence information. The methods describe the identification and accumulation of preferred nucleic acid sequences in the germplasm of a breeding population of plants.

Abstract: Polymorphic soybean DNA loci useful for genotyping between at least two varieties of soybean. Sequences of the loci are useful for providing the basis for designing primers and probe oligonucleotides for detecting polymorphisms in soybean DNA. Polymorphisms are useful for genotyping applications in soybean. The polymorphic markers are useful to establish marker/trait associations, e.g. in linkage disequilibrium mapping and association studies, positional cloning and transgenic applications, marker-aided breeding and marker-assisted selection, hybrid prediction and identity by descent studies. The polymorphic markers are also useful in mapping libraries of DNA clones, e.g. for soybean QTLs and genes linked to polymorphisms.

Abstract: A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly.

Abstract: Novel methods are provided to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. A method for introgressive hybridization, for example, generally includes removing tissue samples from individual seeds using an automated seed sampler without affecting germination viability of the seeds, and analyzing nucleic acids extracted from the tissue samples for at least one genetic marker. The method then further includes selecting the sampled seeds that possess the at least one genetic marker, cultivating fertile plants from the selected seeds, and crossing the fertile plants with other plants.