Agronomic Performance of G. max x G. soja Hybrid Progenies for Crop Improvement in Soybean

Genetic improvement of the cultivated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] may be possible through hybridization with its wild progenitor, G. soja Sieb. & Zucc. Interspecific cross between G. max (Hwangkeumkong) and G. soja (IT.182932) was made in the summer of 1997. In F₂ the percentage of plant height, nodes per plant, and pods per plant were high but gradually reduced from F₂ to F₄. In contrast pod length, seeds per pod, and 100-seeds weight were increased gradually through generations advanced. Wild variation as evident in F₂ in plant height, number of branches, pods per plant, and 100-seeds weight. Twenty six percent of the F₂, 44 % of the F₃ and 60% of the F₄ segregants showed more G. max traits. The combination of useful traits from both species is possible through interspecific hybridization. The characters that could be transferred from wild species to cultivated species are more pod number, better capacity, and resistance to disease and insects. The interspecific derivatives offer scope for selection for high grain yield. Therefore, introducing genes from G. soja to G. max could be contribute to greater genetic diversity of future cultivars. And semicultivated soybean had some desired characteristics including tolerance to adverse environments and multi-seed characters. It means the infusing of semicultivated germplasm to the cultivated soybean could increase number of seeds and pods per plant significantly, and consequently could enhance selecting potential on yield.