Abstract This study aimed to apply selection indexes in situations in which F2 populations and their parents are evaluated simultaneously in field trials to predict population genotypic values and selecting the best populations. Fifteen F2 soybean populations were evaluated for number of days to flowering and to maturity and grain yield. The data was analyzed using restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction (REML/BLUP) to obtain genotypic effects, variance components and accuracies. Four selection methods were compared: genotypic values of the F2 populations (gF2), combined index with the mean genotypic value of parents and F2 population (Ia) and two indexes that add (to gF2 and to Ia) and consider genetic variability within populations (Ib and Ic). The index Ia presented a result similar to that obtained with the gF2 selection method. Selection indexes (Ib and Ic) based on several sources of information were more efficient than selection based on gF2 values only.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a capacidade geral e a específica de combinação (CGC e CEC, respectivamente) de seis genitores de soja (Glycine max), para identificar aqueles que são promissores e suas melhores combinações para o desenvolvimento de linhagens superiores quanto à precocidade e à produção de grãos, bem como à melhor época de avaliação. Seis genitores e seus 15 híbridos foram avaliados em blocos ao acaso, durante o inverno de 2014 e o verão de 2015/2016, em casa de vegetação. Os dados obtidos para número de dias para florescimento, ciclo e produção foram analisados pelo método 2 de Griffing, modelo 1. Resultados contrastantes foram obtidos para as duas épocas, com ciclo mais curto e maior produtividade no verão. A maior CGC quanto ao ciclo é observada nos progenitores 'MSOY6101' e 'MSOY9144RR', com sinal negativo e positivo, respectivamente. 'TMG123RR' apresenta a maior CGC quanto à produção de grãos. A maior CEC quanto ao número de dias para o florescimento e ao ciclo está associada aos cruzamentos 'SYN9078RR' x 'MSOY9144RR' e 'TMG123RR' x 'MSOY9144RR', respectivamente. No entanto, a maior CEC quanto à produção de grãos é observada em 'MSOY6101' x 'MSOY9144RR', com valor positivo, e 'TMG801' x 'MSOY9144RR', com valor negativo, durante o verão.

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA, respectively) of six soybean (Glycine max) parents, in order to identify the promising ones and their best combinations for the development of superior lines for earliness and grain yield, as well as the best evaluation season. Six parents and their 15 hybrids were evaluated in a randomized complete block design, during the 2014 winter and 2015/2016 summer, in a greenhouse. The data obtained for number of days to flowering, cycle, and grain yield were analyzed by Griffing’s method 2, model 1. Contrasting results were obtained for the two seasons, with a shorter cycle and a higher yield in the summer. The highest GCA for cycle is observed for the 'MSOY6101' and 'MSOY9144RR' parents, with negative and positive signs, respectively. 'TMG123RR' shows the highest GCA for grain yield. The highest SCA for days to flowering and cycle is associated with the 'SYN9078RR' × 'MSOY9144RR' and 'TMG123RR' × 'MSOY9144RR' crosses, respectively. However, the highest SCA for grain yield is observed for 'MSOY6101' × 'MSOY9144RR', with a positive value, and for 'TMG801' × 'MSOY9144RR', with a negative value, during the summer.