Registration of ‘R19C-1012’: A high-yielding soybean cultivar with improved flooding tolerance at early vegetative stages

‘R19C-1012’ (Reg. no. CV-564, PI 707837) is a high-yielding, conventional maturity group Mid-IV (Relative maturity 4.6) soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar with improved flooding tolerance at V2–V4 vegetative growth stages. It was developed and released by the University of Arkansas System–Division of Agriculture Research & Extension Center in 2024. R19C-1012 has an indeterminate growth habit, purple flowers, gray pubescence, brown pods, and seed with an imperfect black hilum. From 2019 to 2023, R19C-1012 was evaluated across 40 irrigated environments, with an average grain yield of 4302 kg ha⁻¹, representing 93% and 99% relative yield of the Xtend and non-Xtend checks, respectively. Under flooding conditions at V2–V4 vegetative growth stages, R19C-1012 outperformed the checks with a relative yield advantage of +158%. In irrigated conditions, seed of R19C-1012 contains 397 g kg⁻¹ and 219.4 g kg⁻¹ of protein and oil content on a dry weight basis, respectively, and weigh 12.3 g 100 seeds⁻¹. It has resistance to brown stem rot (caused by Phialophora gregata) and stem canker (caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum var. aspalathi) and has tolerance to sulfonylurea herbicides. R19C-1012 provides Mid-South US growers with resilience and flexibility in their cropping systems by mitigating yield losses under flooding conditions, while also offering seed cost savings. This is particularly beneficial in flood-prone areas destined for crop rotation systems with rice (Oryza sativa). As a non-GMO soybean cultivar, it presents opportunities for high-value markets with premium prices. Furthermore, R19C-1012 is a valuable genetic resource for soybean breeding programs focused on improving flooding tolerance.