Soybean [Glyclae max (L.) Merr.] plant introductions (PI) been investigated as sources of unique favorable alleles for yield improvement, even though most PIs are inferior to the best adapted coltivars for yield. A physiological character that is a component of yield might be useful for identifying Pls that might contribute unique favorable alleles for yield. The objective of this study was to compare, in terms of progeny yield, the value as a parent of a PI selected for yield (P1423897) with a PI selected for length of the seed‐filling period (stage RS‐RT) (PI 398401). Each PI parent contributed of the germplasm to separate BCI populations produced with the breeding lines or cultivar A80‐345005, LN80‐9359, and Ripley. Furty random BC1F3‐derived lines from each of the six populations were compared at Lexington, KY, in 1986 and 1987. The progeny groups from the two PIs did not differ for yield or seed‐filling period. The to,yielding 20% of each population were compared at the two Kentucky locations in 1988. The PI 423897 progeny were 8% higher yielding than the PI 398401 progeny, with no significant difference in the length of the seed‐filling period. Seven of the top 10 progeny lines for yield bad PI 423897 as the PI parent. Selection of a PI based on a seed‐filling period longer than the adapted cultivars was not su0erior to selection of a PI based on yield, even though the adapted coltivars were higher yielding than the PI selected for yield.
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