Highlight of soybeans in the 2022/23 harvest marks 50 years of Embrapa

Embrapa has three soybean cultivars highlighted in the 2022/23 harvest, one conventional (BRSMG 534) and two with Xtend technology (BRS 2560XTD and BRS 2562XTD), which combine productivity with tolerance to glyphosate and dicamba herbicides. The new cultivars are recommended for several Brazilian regions and present characteristics for adoption in different production systems.

BRSMG 534, developed in the Embrapa Soja partnership with Fundação Triângulo and Agricultural Research Company of Minas Gerais (Epamig), is a conventional soybean cultivar with high productivity, production stability and which also adds Shield technology, a line of soybean cultivars. soybeans that present resistance genes to Asian rust. “The Shield cultivar is an important genetic tool in the context of integrated management. Even though it does not eliminate the use of fungicides, it provides greater efficiency and safety in the chemical management of the disease”, explains researcher Roberto Zito. According to the researcher, the cultivar also stands out for being resistant to the main soybean diseases (bacterial pustule, frog's eye spot, stem canker), moderate resistance to powdery mildew and the two main root-knot nematodes. The cultivar is from maturity group 7.2, which is a relevant characteristic, as it allows for a second harvest, both of corn and cotton or sorghum. BRSMG 534 is recommended for different regions of Goiás (RECs 301, 302, 303, 304 and 401), Federal District (REC 304), Minas Gerais (RECs 302, 303, 304 and 401), São Paulo (REC 302) and Mato Grosso (REC 402).

The BRS 2560XTD was developed in partnership between Embrapa Soja and Fundação Meridional. In addition to the refuge option for areas with cultivars with I2X technology (maturity group between 5.8 and 6.2), BRS 2560XTD is a cultivar with high productive potential and plant architecture that favors abundant branching. Embrapa Soja researcher Carlos Lasaro Pereira Melo explains that the new cultivar is adapted to early sowing, allowing it to fit into crop succession/rotation systems. The BRS 2560XTD is recommended for Serra do Nordeste and Planalto Superior do Rio Grande do Sul (REC103); Central-southern Paraná (REC103) and southern São Paulo (REC103). Regarding the cultivars' reaction to diseases, BRS 2560XTD is resistant to stem canker, common soybean mosaic and Phytophthora root rot and moderately resistant to frogeye spot, powdery mildew. It also has resistance to the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. “This cultivar is also tolerant to sulfonylureas (chemical group of herbicides used to control weeds), therefore the action of these herbicides is selective, whether used to control weeds in pre- or post-emergence of the crop, as well as for the control of voluntary soy”, explains Pereira Melo.

The highlights of the harvest are also the BRS 2562XTD, developed in partnership between Embrapa Soja and Fundação Meridional. The cultivar is also a refuge option for areas with cultivars with I2X technology with a maturity group between 6.0 and 6.4, due to their precocity. The BRS 2562XTD has high stability and productive performance, adapted to different production environments. “In addition, the cultivar allows early sowing, making it possible to fit into crop succession/rotation systems. These crop attributes may vary due to climate, soil and management, but in general they follow the characteristics mentioned”, highlights researcher Marcos Petek, from Embrapa Soja. Regarding the cultivars' reaction to diseases, BRS 2562XTD is resistant to stem canker, common soybean mosaic and Phytophthora root rot and moderately resistant to frogeye spot and powdery mildew. It is also resistant to cyst nematodes (races 3 and 14). It is recommended for Paraná (REC 201), São Paulo (REC 201), Mato Grosso do Sul (REC 204 and 301) Goiás (REC 304 and 401), Minas Gerais (REC 304) and Federal District (REC 304).

Protection against caterpillars

Cultivars with Xtend technology (XTD) are options for refuge areas to be used close to crops that use Intacta2 Xtend (I2X) technology. The Intacta2 Xtend (I2X) cultivars, in addition to tolerance to herbicides, add resistance to the main soybean caterpillars. In order to extend the useful life of this technology and avoid the resistance of caterpillars in Intacta2 Xtend cultivars, Embrapa considers the adoption of the refuge essential.

Intacta2 (Anticarsia gemmatalis), apple caterpillar (Chloridea virescens) and armpit borer (Crocidosema aporema). “The pyramiding of three proteins in this technology reduces the probability of breaking resistance”, explains researcher Daniel Sosa Gomez, from Embrapa Soja. “However, a fundamental aspect to avoid the selection of resistant caterpillar populations in crops using this technology is the planting of structured refuge areas”, explains Sosa Gomez.

The current refuge recommendation for soybean cultivation is at least 20% of the area with technology other than Intacta2 Xtend. According to the researcher, this is a preventive measure that consists of planting part of the crop with Xtend technology - or other non-Bt soybean options (without the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin - at a maximum distance of 800 meters from crops with the Intacta2 Xtend technology. “The adoption of the refuge area enables the random mating of moths from areas with Intacta2 Embrapa also defends that pest management in crops with Intacta2 Xtend technology follows the same premises as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).