Comparison between the SPD and the SPDS methods for segregating generation advancement in soybean

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to compare the SPD (Single Pod Descent) and SPDS (Single Pod Descent with Selection) methods for segregating generation advancement in soybean breeding. Sixteen populations derived from crosses among Japanese and adapted Brazilian soybean were used. The traits, number of days to flowering (NDF) and to maturity (NDM), plant height at flowering (PHF) and at maturity (PHM), and individual plant yield (IPY) were assessed. The populations obtained by SPDS showed values close to the variation in the populations obtained by SPD. Regression through the origin showed that both methods were equivalent for NDM in the F3 generation and for NDF in the F 4 generation. For all other trait/generation combinations, SPDS yielded superior means. Therefore, it was preferable to use SPDS because it allowed the advance of generations with smaller population size.