Long-term cold seedling storage as a tool in soybean breeding

Abstract

Breeding soybeans for long-juvenile trait has greatly contributed to expand Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah) cultivation. However, most of the reconunended varieties are susceptible to diseases and mineral stresses, and subject of breeding programmes for the crop. Laboratory techniques for screening progenies by non-destructive evaluation can be used in both cases, when large populations are needed. Testing is quite laborious and the transplant of selected seedlings may not be feasible, if data are not analyzed prior to selection. The method described allows storage of selected individuals in cold temperature until all families from crosses have been tested and analyzed. Stored seedlings were kept for two and four weeks, at 5^o C and 95% relative moisture, before transplanted and evaluated at maturity. lt has been effective to recover normal plants from long-term cold stored seedlings, and may be successfully used as a tool in soybean breeding.