Maple

Thursday, 03 September 2009 13:09

The “Maple” series of varieties came from this program, beginning with Maple Presto, still the earliest maturing variety developed in North America. Maple Glen was perhaps the most widely grown, while Maple Arrow was the cultivar generally credited with the expansion of soybeans into the 2600 CHU area. “The one that kick-started shorterseason varieties was Maple Arrow. I was the midwife for that,” says Voldeng. “The previous breeder (Lorne Donovan) had made the selections, and I came along when it was a pure line and took it through testing and regulation. It was 10 days earlier than comparable varieties, but yielded just as much or more. This gave the farmer 10 extra days to get the land ready and plant winter wheat. It fit into that winter wheat production area just like a hand in a glove.”Voldeng is often credited for using novel approaches to solve various breeding challenges. This was illustrated with his creation of a number of specialty market soybean varieties, and was evident during his work with the Maple varieties. Voldeng’s work with the Maple varieties turned out to be a springboard to success in other areas. For instance, his development of high-protein soybean cultivars culminated (after years of intense work). •    Maple Arrow, credited with expanding soybean production into the 2600 CHU area; •    Maple Presto, still the earliest maturing variety in North America; Go to table of soybeans varieties