Embrapa Soybeanpreserves third
biggest collection in theworld,
with 35 thousand varieties.
Genuinely brazilian
TheActiveGermplasmDatabase (AGD) of EmbrapaSoybean, created in1976, isnowcon-
sidered to be the third biggest soybean seed database in the world and contributes toward
preserving the genetic variability of the plant. The collection has some 35 thousand access-
es, coming from collections of countries all over the world. In order to preserve its genetic
richness, the entity maintains a totally automated structure, remodeled in 2011. The seeds
are stored in cool chambers at 5 degrees, under controlledmoisture levels of 25%.
Researcher Marcelo Fernandes de Oliveira, curator of the AGD, has it that it is a nation-
al asset, which is an assurance of the development of better cultivars and turns Brazil more
productive. “In the case of Embrapa, the access to these characteristics was a determining
factor tomodernize completely the genetics of the BRS cultivars”, he comments. “Our port-
folioisthemostcompleteinthemarket,becausewehavesoybeanspeciesthatmeetthedif-
ferentneedsofthegrowers,likeprecocity,undeterminedhabit,reactionagainstnewdiseas-
es and high productive potential”.
been catalogued, the seeds are available
for crossings with other plants, generating
new or enhanced plants. “We have to cata-
logue and learn about these genetic sourc-
es because, on the contrary, wewill haveno
chance tomake use of this wealth”, he says.
Different from the soybean seeded now-
adays, originated in China (Glycine max),
wild soybeans are not widely known, but
they bear characteristics that couldbe a de-
termining factor for commercial crops.
“Although wild soybean is little known,
we know that its genome differs from
the genome of cultivated soybean and
that it has resistance sources to several
pests”, he clarifies. The scientist says that
the first resistances to be identified are
against rust, stem canker and cercospo-
ra leaf spot, which are the three most se-
vere diseases that attack soybean plants.
We already know that Glycine tomantela,
one of thewildest species, contains a gene
that is resistant to Asian rust, but the idea
is to identify other genes capable of im-
proving the cultivation methods.
