Genetic diversity in soybean germplasm identified by SSR and EST-SSR markers

The objectives of this work were to investigate the genetic variation in 79 soybean (Glycine max) accessions from different regions of the world, to cluster the accessions based on their similarity, and to test the correlation between the two types of markers used. Simple sequence repeat markers present in genomic (SSR) and in expressed regions (EST-SSR) were used. Thirty SSR primer-pairs were selected (20 genomic and 10 EST-SSR) based on their distribution on the 20 genetic linkage groups of soybean, on their trinucleotide repetition unit and on their polymorphism information content. All analyzed loci were polymorphic, and 259 alleles were found. The number of alleles per locus varied from 2-21, with an average of 8.63. The accessions exhibit a significant number of rare alleles, with genotypes 19, 35, 63 and 65 carrying the greater number of exclusive alleles. Accessions 75 and 79 were the most similar and accessions 31 and 35, and 40 and 78, were the most divergent ones. A low correlation between SSR and EST-SSR data was observed, thus genomic and expressed microsatellite markers are required for an appropriate analysis of genetic diversity in soybean. The genetic diversity observed was high and allowed the formation of five groups and several subgroups. A moderate relationship between genetic divergence and geographic origin of accessions was observed.

Development of Sclerotium rolfsii sclerotia on soybean, corn, and wheat straw, under different soil temperatures and moisture contents

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of moisture and temperature on the development of Sclerotium rolfsii on soybean, corn, and wheat straw. Wheat straw produced the lowest number of sclerotia. Intermediate soil moisture level (70% of field capacity), and temperatures ranging between 25-30ºC favored sclerotia development. No sclerotia were formed at temperatures between 30-35ºC, on any type of straw.

Eficácia da inoculação de Bradyrhizobium em pré-semeadura da soja

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da inoculação de Bradyrhizobium em pré-semeadura de soja e o efeito do tratamento das sementes com fungicidas na nodulação. Foram usados controles sem inoculação, que receberam ou não a aplicação de 200 kg ha-1 de N. A inoculação em pré-semeadura mostrou desempenho igual à inoculação padrão quanto à nodulação, produção de matéria seca, produtividade de grãos e acúmulo de nitrogênio nos tecidos e grãos da soja. Entretanto, quando as sementes foram tratadas com fungicidas, houve redução da nodulação e da produtividade.

Amostragem probabilística estratificada por pontos para estimar a área cultivada com soja

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de um modelo probabilístico de amostragem estratificada por pontos, e definir um tamanho de amostra adequado para estimar a área cultivada com soja no Rio Grande do Sul. A área foi estratificada de acordo com a percentagem de soja cultivada em cada município do estado: menor que 20, de 20 a 40 e maior que 40%. Foram avaliadas estimativas obtidas por meio de seis tamanhos de amostras, resultantes da combinação de três níveis de significância (10, 5 e 1%) e dois valores de erro amostral (5 e 2,5%). Para cada tamanho de amostra, foram realizados 400 sorteios aleatórios. As estimativas foram avaliadas com base na área de soja obtida de um mapa temático de referência proveniente de uma cuidadosa classificação automática e visual de imagens multitemporais dos satélites TM/Landsat-5 e ETM+/Landsat-7 disponível para a safra 2000/2001. A área de soja no Rio Grande do Sul pode ser estimada por meio de um modelo de amostragem probabilística estratificada por pontos, sendo que a melhor estimativa é obtida para o maior tamanho amostral (1.990 pontos), com diferença de apenas -0,14% em relação à estimativa do mapa de referência e um coeficiente de variação de 6,98%.

Produtividade de soja e milho após coberturas de inverno e descompactação mecânica do solo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de coberturas de inverno e da descompactação mecânica do solo sobre o desempenho de soja e milho, em sistema de plantio direto. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos em Eldorado do Sul, RS, sobre Argissolo Vermelho compactado, nas safras 2005/2006 e 2006/2007. No primeiro, o delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas. Os tratamentos consistiram de duas profundidades teóricas de atuação da haste sulcadora da semeadora (0,06 e 0,12 m, subparcela) e de três tipos de coberturas do solo no inverno (parcela): pousio, aveia-preta (Avena strigosa) e aveia-preta+ervilhaca (Vicia Sativa). Em 2006, a cobertura aveia-preta+ervilhaca foi substituída por nabo-forrageiro (Raphanus sativus). No segundo experimento, realizado em blocos ao acaso, o solo foi escarificado e os tratamentos consistiram do uso de aveia-preta ou nabo-forrageiro como cobertura de inverno. Os cultivos de cobertura reduziram a compactação superficial do solo (0-0,06 m) em comparação ao pousio e, na safra 2006/2007, sob condições de baixa disponibilidade hídrica, proporcionaram maior produtividade de milho e soja. Isso não se repetiu em 2006/2007, quando a disponibilidade hídrica foi adequada. O aumento da profundidade de atuação das hastes sulcadoras não influenciou a produtividade da soja e do milho. A escarificação reduziu a produtividade da soja e do milho em relação ao SPD contínuo.

Heliotropic responses of soybean cultivars at three phenological stages and under two water regimes

The objectives of this work were to determine the heliotropic movements of the upper trifoliates for two soybean cultivars, BR 16 and Embrapa 48, during a daily cycle, in three phenological stages and two water regimes, and to estimate the impact of irrigation and daily leaflet movements on agronomic characteristics and grain yield. Heliotropic movements were studied in three phenological stages: V4-V6, V7-V10, and R5 in irrigated and non-irrigated plots. For each stage, the leaflet elevation and azimuth were measured hourly. Under a low (V4-V6 stage) and mid (V7-V10 stage) leaf area index (LAI) the diaheliotropism was slightly more frequent and intensive in non-irrigated than in irrigated plants, only at early morning and late afternoon hours. At R5 stage (high LAI) the paraheliotropism of superior trifoliates was predominant and more intensive in non-irrigated plants. The heliotropic movements are correlated to carbon gain, but not to environment (light intensity or temperature), for measurements at 11h. 'Embrapa 48' expresses greater paraheliotropism than 'BR 16' at high LAI, while 'BR 16' displays lower heliotropic plasticity under irrigation. In spite of significant heliotropic differences, genotype and water availability treatments did not influence the final grain yield.

Screening of Brazilian soybean genotypes with high potential for somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration

The aim of this work was to identify Brazilian soybean (Glycine max) genotypes with potential to respond to in vitro culture stimuli for primary somatic embryo induction, secondary embryo proliferation and plant regeneration. Differences among eight tested cultivars were observed at each stage. Two cultivars, IAS-5 and BRSMG 68 Vencedora, were selected for the evaluation of the capacity for embryo differentiation and plant regeneration. These cultivars had high embryo induction frequencies, repetitive embryogenic proliferation, and low precocious embryo germination in the initial experiment. The effect of abscisic acid (ABA) and charcoal addition on plant regeneration was investigated. The addition of ABA to proliferation medium and of ABA and activated charcoal to maturation medium increased embryo differentiation rates, which resulted in a higher number of regenerated plants. The BRSMG 68 Vencedora cultivar was found to have a high potential for embryo induction, embryo proliferation and plant regeneration. The potential of this cultivar for somatic embryogenesis was similar to that observed for cultivar IAS-5, which is currently used for soybean transformation in Brazil. BRSMG 68 Vencedora may be a good alternative genotype for soybean genetic engineering via somatic embryogenesis protocols.

Subunit composition of seed storage proteins in high-protein soybean genotypes

The objective of this work was to quantify the accumulation of the major seed storage protein subunits, β-conglycinin and glycinin, and how they influence yield and protein and oil contents in high-protein soybean genotypes. The relative accumulation of subunits was calculated by scanning SDS-PAGE gels using densitometry. The protein content of the tested genotypes was higher than control cultivar in the same maturity group. Several genotypes with improved protein content and with unchanged yield or oil content were developed as a result of new breeding initiatives. This research confirmed that high-protein cultivars accumulate higher amounts of glycinin and β-conglycinin. Genotypes KO5427, KO5428, and KO5429, which accumulated lower quantities of all subunits of glycinin and β-conglycinin, were the only exceptions. Attention should be given to genotypes KO5314 and KO5317, which accumulated significantly higher amounts of both subunits of glycinin, and to genotypes KO5425, KO5319, KO539 and KO536, which accumulated significantly higher amounts of β-conglycinin subunits. These findings suggest that some of the tested genotypes could be beneficial in different breeding programs aimed at the production of agronomically viable plants, yielding high-protein seed with specific composition of storage proteins for specific food applications.

Neotropical brown stink bug (Euschistus heros) resistance to methamidophos in Paraná, Brazil

The objective of this work was to evaluate the soybean neotropical brown stink bug (Euschistus heros) resistance to methamidophos through laboratory bioassays. Bioassays were carried out using populations of adults and nymphs of Euschistus heros in the last instar collected in soybean crops in Paraná State. Highest frequencies of genotypes resistant to methamidophos were observed in Alvorada do Sul, Toledo and Nova Santa Rosa, PR. Populations from Bela Vista do Paraíso, Araruna, Campo Mourão, Mariluz, Cascavel, São João do Ivaí, and Mamboré were more susceptible to methamidophos. However, an increase on resistant genotypes in this locations cannot be discarded.

Redução do inóculo inicial de Sclerotinia sclerotiorum em soja cultivada após uso do sistema Santa Fé

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a efetividade do sistema Santa Fé na redução do inóculo inicial de Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, agente causal do mofo-branco em soja. O experimento foi realizado em Jataí, GO, nas safras de 2007/2008, 2008/2009 e 2009/2010, em lavoura comercial infestada naturalmente pelo patógeno. Foram feitas avaliações quanto ao número de escleródios germinados na superfície do solo, e quanto ao número de apotécios e estipes do patógeno. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial (2x4), com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram do sistema Santa Fé (milho + Urochloa ruziziensis) e do milho solteiro implantados na safrinha, em março de 2008 e 2009. Além disso, estudaram-se também quatro diferentes épocas de avaliação da germinação dos escleródios e produção de apotécios e estipes. Verificou-se que o sistema Santa Fé aumentou a proporção de escleródios menores que 2 mm, considerados de menor infectividade, e favoreceu a redução do inóculo inicial por meio da germinação de escleródios e formação de apotécios na entressafra, o que reduziu o número de escleródios germinados e o número de apotécios em pleno florescimento durante os cultivos da soja. O sistema Santa Fé pode reduzir o inóculo inicial de S. sclerotiorum, e pode ser utilizado no manejo do mofo-branco da soja.

Radiological impact of phosphogypsum surface application in a no-till system in Southern Brazil

The objective of this work was to determine the impact of phosphogypsum application on 226Ra and 228Ra activities in the soil and on their accumulation in soybean grains. A field experiment was carried out in Paraná state, Brazil, on a loamy Typic Hapludox, under no-till system, with increasing phosphogypsum rates: 4, 8, and 12 Mg ha-1. GammA ray spectrometry was carried out using HPGe detectors with 45 and 10% relative efficiencies, for soybean grains and soil, respectively. No increment of 226Ra and 228Ra activities was observed due to the increase in phosphogypsum rates in the soil, and a small reduction was noticed in the grains. Average values found for 226Ra and 228Ra activities were 37 and 57 Bq kg-1 in the soil and 1.44 and 3.19 Bq kg-1 in soybean grains. The application of phosphogypsum for no-till soybean production is a safe practice regarding the risks of radiation damage to human health

Identification of reference genes for expression analysis by real-time quantitative PCR in drought-stressed soybean

The objective of this work was to validate, by quantitative PCR in real time (RT-qPCR), genes to be used as reference in studies of gene expression in soybean in drought-stressed trials. Four genes commonly used in soybean were evaluated: Gmβ-actin, GmGAPDH, GmLectin and GmRNAr18S. Total RNA was extracted from six samples: three from roots in a hydroponic system with different drought intensities (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 minutes of water stress), and three from leaves of plants grown in sand with different soil moistures (15, 5 and 2.5% gravimetric humidity). The raw cycle threshold (Ct) data were analyzed, and the efficiency of each primer was calculated for an overall analysis of the Ct range among the different samples. The GeNorm application was used to evaluate the best reference gene, according to its stability. The GmGAPDH was the least stable gene, with the highest mean values of expression stability (M), and the most stable genes, with the lowest M values, were the Gmβ-actin and GmRNAr18S, when both root and leaves samples were tested. These genes can be used in RT-qPCR as reference gene for expression analysis.

Reação de genótipos de soja à infecção natural por ferrugem asiática

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o progresso da ferrugem asiática (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) em genótipos de soja destinados à produção de silagem, sob condições naturais de infecção. Avaliou-se a severidade da ferrugem ao longo do tempo e a capacidade combinatória de cinco cultivares e 20 progênies F3 de soja. A maior área abaixo da curva de progresso da ferrugem (AACPF) foi de 2.116, para as progênies originadas do cruzamento entre as cultivares UFVS 2003 x UFV16, e a menor de 1.307, para UFV16 x Tucunaré. Houve efeito significativo das capacidades geral e específica de combinação, para a AACPF entre os genitores e as progênies, bem como para os cruzamentos recíprocos. Esses resultados indicam que a resistência à ferrugem asiática da soja pode ser influenciada por componentes maternos.

QTLs for resistance to soybean cyst nematode, races 3, 9, and 14 in cultivar Hartwig

The objective of this work was to identify major and minor-effect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to races 3, 9, and 14 of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in Hartwig cultivar; to map new resistance QTLs for these races; and to check for the existence of epistatic interactions between QTLs. Cultivar Hartwig is an important resistance source to SCN. Recombinant inbred lines (RIL) obtained from a cross between 'Hartwig' (resistant) and Y23 (susceptible) were evaluated regarding resistance to the three races. New genomic regions for resistance to SCN were identified by microsatellites. Four QTLs, which explained between 12 and 34% of phenotypic variance, were detected for resistance to race 3 in linkage groups (LG) A2, G, J, and M. The QTL in LG G is also important for resistance to race 9. Epistatic interactions were detected between loci, which indicate resistance to races 9 and 14. There are high and low-effect resistance QTLs to SCN.

Simulation of soybean growth and yield under northeastern Amazon climatic conditions

The objective of this work was to parameterize, calibrate, and validate a new version of the soybean growth and yield model developed by Sinclair, under natural field conditions in northeastern Amazon. The meteorological data and the values of soybean growth and leaf area were obtained from an agrometeorological experiment carried out in Paragominas, PA, Brazil, from 2006 to 2009. The climatic conditions during the experiment were very distinct, with a slight reduction in rainfall in 2007, due to the El Niño phenomenon. There was a reduction in the leaf area index (LAI) and in biomass production during this year, which was reproduced by the model. The simulation of the LAI had root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.55 to 0.82 m² m-2, from 2006 to 2009. The simulation of soybean yield for independent data showed a RMSE of 198 kg ha-1, i.e., an overestimation of 3%. The model was calibrated and validated for Amazonian climatic conditions, and can contribute positively to the improvement of the simulations of the impacts of land use change in the Amazon region. The modified version of the Sinclair model is able to adequately simulate leaf area formation, total biomass, and soybean yield, under northeastern Amazon climatic conditions.