Highly competitive soybean cultivars expand options for Brazilian farmers

Embrapa Soja and Fundação Meridional expand their portfolio with the launch of two transgenic soybean cultivars - BRS 544RR and BRS 467RR - and a conventional cultivar, BRS 391, during Showtec, an event held from January 22nd to 24th, in Maracaju (MS). BRS 544RR has the advantage of high production stability, associated with the precocity of maturity group 6.2, and excellent adaptation in São Paulo, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul - soybean macro-region 2 (RECs 201, 202, 203 and 204). The cultivar allows early sowing, which allows the producer to produce a second crop after soybeans. “This means that the cultivar can be planted at the beginning of the recommended season, allowing the sowing of off-season corn later, for example”, says Carlos Arrabal Arias.

The cultivar is also resistant to the main soybean diseases, including phytophthora root rot. BRS 544RR is tolerant to glyphosate, which facilitates weed control. “The characteristics of this cultivar help producers who need a competitive option for refuge in Intacta soybean areas”, says the researcher.

The other launch is BRS 467RR, which is also recommended for São Paulo, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul, covering the entire soybean macro-region 2 (RECs 201, 202, 203 and 204). Within this region, the cultivar has excellent productive potential in low and hot regions (below 500 meters in altitude). “The cultivar presents excellent adaptability and productive stability in these warmer regions, as it has a slightly longer cycle (maturity group 6.8), which is a demand from producers to avoid losses with dry spells, for example”, explains researcher Marcos Rafael Petek.

Furthermore, the cultivar has better productive potential in early sowing, which allows the sowing of a second crop. BRS 467RR is resistant to the main soybean diseases and is tolerant to glyphosate, facilitating weed control. “In this sense, it is a great option for the portfolio of producers who need to adopt refuge areas close to cultivars with Intacta technology”, says Petek.

BRS 391 is a conventional soybean cultivar with high yield potential, mainly for sowing from mid-October onwards. This cultivar's main difference is the characteristics of Block technology, that is, it is tolerant to stink bug attacks. “This cultivar allows better coexistence with insects in the field and, although it does not eliminate the use of insecticides, it greatly increases the protection of the crop against pest attack”, explains Arias”, from Embrapa Soja. “The latest research data indicates that producers who use this cultivar will have fewer discounts when selling, due to the reduction in damage caused by stink bugs to the grains”, reinforces the researcher.

BRS 391 has an early cycle (maturity group 6.4) and is resistant to the main soybean diseases. “Its performance is superior, especially in areas with the presence of root-knot nematodes (M. javanica and M. incognita), a very common problem for the regions recommended for this cultivar”, highlight the Embrapa researchers. 

In general, soy is valued for its high protein content, which is higher than that of other oilseeds. Therefore, the grain has become an indispensable raw material for the production of protein bran, used mainly in the manufacture of feed for poultry, pigs, cattle and small animals. Among the strengths of BRS 391 are the high levels of protein content (39,3%), when the national average is 36,69% (average protein content of Brazilian soybeans in the last three harvests). BRS 391 is recommended for São Paulo, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul, covering almost the entire soybean macro-region 2 (RECs 201, 202 and 204).