Agronomic performance and genetic dissimilarity between soybean genotypes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of soybean cultivars and quantify the genetic variability by grouping the cultivars and the relative contribution of the variables for the genetic dissimilarity, thus identifying promising combinations. The experiment was installed in the Plant Science Industry of the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul - Unit Aquidauna in the Brazilian Savana (or Cerrado). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of six transgenic soybean cultivars: P98Y70, CD 238, CD 241, BRS 255, NK 7059 and VMAX. The variables measured were: plant height at maturity, height of the first pod (AIV), number of branches, number of pods (NV), mass of hundred grain and grain yield. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared to the Tukeys test at 5 % probability, and then used the average Euclidean distance as dissimilarity measure. The P98Y70 genotype was the most productive. The NV and AIV characters were the main contributors to the divergence between the genotypes. Crossings between NK7059 and P98Y70 genotypes can result in a hybrid with high heterotic effect.