New soybean cultivar is developed by EPAMIG, Embrapa and Fundação Triângulo

Soy is a versatile, nutritious and functional food, which can be present in several Brazilian cuisine dishes, replacing, for example, traditional beans. With an interest in promoting and diversifying grain cultivation in the country, the Agricultural Research Company of Minas Gerais (EPAMIG) developed the new cultivar BRSMG 534, in partnership with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the Triângulo Research and Development. Resistant to the main crop diseases, especially Asian rust, the new material can be used both for oil production and for human consumption.

“BRSMG 534 has high productivity, has a very good size and development, in addition to being adapted to our region and others, such as the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso”, highlights EPAMIG Oeste researcher, Ana Cristina Juhász.

She points out that the maturity group to which the new cultivar belongs (7.1) is very satisfactory and allows crop diversification. “She is considered precocious, and that is highly valued today. The producer currently wants to plant and harvest as quickly as possible, as this way the soy spends less time in the field, freeing up the area for the start of other crops in the off-season, such as sorghum, wheat and off-season corn”, explains Ana Cristina.

In addition to its high productivity, which makes it competitive compared to materials available on the market, the new cultivar also presents moderate resistance to the two main root-knot nematodes: Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita.

Another outstanding characteristic is its suitability for human consumption. “It is important to remember that it is not a transgenic cultivar and, during tests, we found that it has a pleasant flavor, which makes it valuable for human consumption. This is a second benefit”, highlights the EPAMIG Oeste researcher.

Resistance to Asian rust

The development of the new cultivar took around 10 years, from the first crossing until its launch, and it was specifically designed to have high productivity and good resistance against the main diseases of soybean crops, such as stem canker, frog's eye spot and bacterial pustule. SHIELD technology is also present and was obtained by crossing with sources of resistance in the breeding process, so that it could develop differentiated resistance against Asian rust, currently considered the most important disease in soybeans.

“Depending on its intensity, Asian rust can be devastating. So, the initial crossing was also aimed at greater resistance against this disease and, within the population of hundreds of plants generated, selection steps were carried out until we reached BRSMG 534”, explains Embrapa Soja researcher, Roberto Kazuhiko Zito. “We observed that it presents genetic resistance, when compared to other cultivars. This provides more security for the producer. But it is worth remembering that other control measures, including the use of fungicides, remain necessary,” he adds.

Historical and productive partnership

The initial stages of development of BRSMG 534 were carried out by Embrapa Soja, in Londrina (PR). The most advanced phases of evaluation were conducted on Minas Gerais soil, by Fundação Triângulo and EPAMIG Oeste, in their Getúlio Vargas Experimental Field, located in Uberaba (MG), and in other locations in the region. The research was part of the work of the Soybean Genetic Improvement Program for Human Food. Finalized in 2015, the agreement between the three institutions lasted 30 years and generated more than 40 cultivars.

“BRSMG 534 was the last cultivar in the program. The partnership was made official in 1995, shortly before the Cultivar Protection Law, but the first cultivar launched in partnership was, in fact, MG/BR-22 (Garimpo), registered in 1987. In total there were more than 40 cultivars. The most notorious of them being MG/BR-46 (Conquista), which, at a certain point, was the most planted soybean cultivar in Brazil”, recalls Roberto Zito.

According to the researchers, the challenge now is to disseminate information about soybean cultivation, so that it becomes increasingly part of the population's dietary routine. “Although soy is not yet part of the average Brazilian’s plate, EPAMIG continues working to develop new cultivars for human consumption. A few years ago, we did extensive publicity and tasting work, and the response was good. We even launched a recipe booklet that can be found on the Epamig website”, concludes Ana Cristina Juhász.