Abstract

The objective of the present study is the evaluation of genetic parameters in F₄ and F₅ soybean populations from two crosses, which are potentially resistant to Asian soybean rust. The genotypes were developed from the cross between parents, which were resistant and susceptible to the disease, and totaled 137 genotypes in generation F₄ and 283 genotypes in F₅. The experimental design was augmented blocks with two checks between the treatments. The following agronomic characters were evaluated: plant height at maturity, first pod insertion height, number of nodes and branches, agronomic value, lodging, number of pods and seeds per plant and seed production. After the genotypes were submitted to analyses of variance, heritability, and selection gains, it was observed that Cross 1 had superior progenies, which were potentially resistant to Asian soybean rust and also had good productivity.

Key words: Glycine max, genetic improvement, heritability, selection gains, productivity.