Genetic parameters of agronomic traits and yield components of soybean genotypes in the Colombian Altillanura

Abstract

Soybean cultivation expansion in Colombia has generated the need to seek varieties with high genetic merit. A soybean genetic breeding program seeks to generate varieties with competitive and sustainable yields, and high-quality grain adapted to the conditions of the low tropics. The aim was to determine the genetic parameters and expected gains in quantitative traits of interest in a soybean breeding process using biometric tools. Sixty lines and four commercial varieties were evaluated in an 8x8 alpha lattice design (genotypes x blocks) planted in oxisols from the Altillanura region of Colombia. The estimation of the parameters was performed by applying mixed models with a random-effects adjustment through the REML method. Wide genetic variability was observed for all the evaluated traits, except for plant height. High heritability values were registered for the characters at flowering and maturity. Heritability was high for yield components such as the number of pods and the weight of 100 grains. Overall, the environmental effect was low, with values close to or higher than 1, except for embryonic abortions, number of empty pods, and grain yield. The genetic gain as a mean percentage was high for plant height, moderate for grain yield, and low for the rest of the characters. Moderate heritability and grain yield gain indicate an additive action of the genes ideal for recurrent selection. The most discriminating characters in the evaluated conditions were the grain yield, weight of 100 grains, and number of pods.

Keywords

• Genetic gain
• Genetic variability
• Heritability
• Low tropics
• Plant breeding