2 - Breeding, Genetics, and Production of Soybeans

Abstract

Soybeans (SB) are one of the major crops in the United States and the world. Soybean breeding, genetics, and production have undergone some dramatic changes in the last few decades. Undoubtedly, this rapid change will continue as general scientific discoveries and innovation are applied to soybean. This chapter briefly discusses the current situation in soybean breeding, genetics, and production. Soybean is an important source of oil and protein for the world. The United States, Brazil, Argentina, and China are major soybean-producing countries. China and the European Union are the largest importers of soybeans. Soybean production practices vary widely around the world. However, the trend in many countries is toward large scale, high input soybean production practices. Soybean genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and genomics have made important contributions to soybean breeding and soybean production. As the sequencing of the soybean genome is completed, new opportunities will arise in each of these areas that will impact soybean breeding and ultimately soybean production. Soybean breeding methods for development of commercial cultivars continue to evolve. Although soybean breeders are successful in producing cultivars using traditional conventional breeding methods, the most widely used methods have shifted in recent decades to wide use of single seed descent and, with the advent of transformation, renewed use of backcrossing. Many breeders are using molecular-based plant breeding methods and techniques, such as marker-assisted selection, as a part of their cultivar development program.