Sustainability the food chain over genetic improvement of the quantity and quality of soybean grain

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate level and stability of grain yield and grain quality as well as adaptability of exotic and domestic soybean cultivars, and identify the most favorable parental combinations as basis for realizing further genetic improvement of soybean. The research was conducted at the experimental field of the Agricultural Institute Osijek (Croatia) over 4-years period and consisted od 30 soybean cultivars: 15 cultivars originated from the soybean breeding program at the Institute Osijek (OS-cultivars) and 15 cultivars originated from the soybean breeding program at the University of Guelph (Canada) (CA-cultivars). OS-cultivars and CA-cultivars with high agronomic performance in grain yield, protein and oil content are identified as the most favorable parents to be used in hybridization for development new, genetically more diverse cultivars, improved in level and stability of quantity and quality of grain, as well as broad adaptability. Also, these results will be enable strategic incorporation of diversity from exotic Canadian germplasm into the domestic Croatian germplasm to develop new better cultivars. Genetic advance in quantity and quality of soybean grain considerably will contribute both further improving and increasing of soybean production, as well as production of safe product high nutritive and functional value for consumers, as well. Hence, genetic improvement of cultivars, based on conventional breeding strategies, could be characterized as an integral part of sustainable food chain.