Breeding for yield and seed quality in soybean

Abstract

Currently, there is demand for high yield soybean cultivars associated with seeds of high physiological quality. The launch of high yield soybean cultivars associated with high quality seeds in soybean is big challenge due to the lack of a straight correlation between agronomic traits and seed quality. The genetic and phenotypic parameters associated with the physiological quality of seeds could help the soybean breeders to development the strategies to achieve this goal. This research aims to estimate the genetic and phenotypic parameters associated with traits related to the physiological quality of seeds soybean progenies, as well as to quantify the effect of selection for grain yield on the physiological quality of seeds. A total of 131 progenies were evaluated from the 2015/2016, and from these, 51 progenies were evaluated at the 2016/2017 season. Physiological quality was evaluated under controlled conditions using germination tests, seedling length tests, tetrazolium tests and emergence tests. Heritability, expected genetic gains, variance components and correlated response were estimated. The variance components due to variation in the progenies were significant for most traits, showing variability. The interaction of progeny by environment was significant, suggesting that environmental factors influence seed production and quality. The magnitudes of heritability and expected selection gain suggested that physiological quality can be successfully improved. Estimates of the correlation responses showed that selection for grain yield is also reflected in gains in the seed quality.