Key Soybean Maturity Groups to Increase Grain Yield in Brazil

Abstract

Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] maturity group (MG) is an important concept used to determine the most suitable macroregion and edaphoclimatic region (ECR) in which soybean can best use the available resources. This classification is based on the number of days between sowing and maturation in the soybean life cycle. The MG is related to photoperiod; thus, the longer the photoperiod, the shorter the MG of cultivars must be to have an adequate life cycle. However, there is no consensus on which MGs are the most suitable for each region to improve grain yield. The objective of this study was to identify suitable soybean MGs for cultivation in the macroregions and ECRs in Brazil. During 4 yr of evaluation, grain yield data from 247 yield trials over 83 locations, encompassing four macroregions and 14 ECRs in Brazil, were used. Cultivars were grouped according to their MG for statistical analyses. Using these groups, the ideal genotypes and performance according to local analyses were determined. The best adapted and most productive cultivars were those with an intermediate MG in their predefined adaptation region (both macroregions and ECR). The maturities that performed the best in each macroregion were as follows: M1 (cultivars in MGs 5.3–5.9) M2 (cultivars in MGs 6.0–7.0), M3 (cultivars in MGs 7.1–7.9), and M4 (cultivars in MGs 7.7–8.4). A lower productivity was observed in cultivars in extreme MGs for each macroregion. Breeding program efforts should target the MGs identified as ideal for each ECR to develop cultivars with a greater chance of achieving high yields and with greater adaptability to the specific region.