Improving soybean industrial quality through interspecific crossing

Interspecific crosses between G. max and G. soja were made for obtaining segregating populations in order to estimate genetic parameters, genetic and phenotypic correlation, potential genetic gain and correlated response. For this, the segreganting populations and their parents were evaluated for grain protein, oil and fatty acids contents in an augmented blocks trial design. Then, a Linear Mixed Model was adjusted for estimating variance components and genetic effects. The conclusion was the use of G. soja lines, through crossing with G. max lines, has potential to obtaining segragating populations driven to the development of comercial cultivars with higher protein content and agronomically adapted, reaching from 2% to 5% of genetic gain by breeding cycle. The heritability estimatives for protein, oil and fatty acids contents were high (from 0.48 to 0.93), what make earlier selection possible for these traits. The selection driven to rise protein content cause reduction in the proportions of saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic), conversely rises the proportions of insaturated acids (oleic and linoleic), except for linolenic acid.