Evaluation of soybean breeding lines from the EEAOC (Tucumán, Argentina) in South Africa

DEVANI, M.R.; LEDESMA, F.; SANCHEZ, J.; PLOPER, L.D.; VAN WYK, W.; DE BEER, G

Durban

Congreso; World Soybean Research Conference IX (WSRC IX); 2013

South Africa has a grain production area (3.73 million ha in 2011/2012) planted mainly with maize and, to a lesser extent, with soybean, in a percentage ratio close to 85/15. For this reason, the country needs to import high volumes of protein meal and soybean oil. That is why the Protein Research Foundation (PRF) strives to promote protein crops in South Africa, especially soybean. Accordingly, in 2010, the PRF signed an agreement with the Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres (EEAOC), from Tucumán province, Argentina. The main objective of this cooperative work is to evaluate advanced breeding lines (ABLs), obtained by the Soybean Breeding Program of the EEAOC, in northeastern South Africa, in order to identify the best suited materials for this region. The project started with two distinct stages. The first phase was executed during the 2010/2011 season and was devoted to identify the maturity groups (MG) better adapted to the ecological conditions of the main soybean areas in South Africa. Four trials were planted at different locations: Pretoria (Gauteng province), Brits (Northwest province), Potchefstroom (Northwest province) and Bethlehem (Free State province). Each trial included representative ABLs of different MG (IV, V, VI, VII and VIII), which were compared with the best local cultivars as controls. Results of these trials showed that the best materials belonged principally to MG V, VI, and short VII. On average, EEAOC lines reached a 9% yield increase as compared to the local checks. The second phase took place in the 2011/2012 season. Sixteen ABLs were compared with six commercial checks. Trials were planted at five locations: the same four as in the previous season, plus Howick (KwaZulu Natal province). Results from these trials revealed that the ABLs were highly promising and the average of them stood out with a 5% higher yield than the local checks average. Considering results from each location, the ABLs showed average yield increases of 12% at Brits and 9% at Howick and Pretoria, in comparison with the controls. At Potchefstroom and Bethlehem, both locations affected by a severe drought, the ABLs did not perform better than the controls. Results from these first two seasons are considered preliminary and need to be confirmed with further evaluations.