Application of the BLUPe predictor in the selection of potential soybean varieties for Orinoquia

The Colombian Orinoquía and the Altillanura subregion show comparative and competitive advantages for soybean production (edaphoclimatic conditions, cost-benefit ratio, potential area, and location), essential food with a high protein content (~37%) and used mostly for poultry and pig nutrition. However, this immense region has scarce varietal alternatives of high grain yield and quality that are adapted to its climatic and edaphic conditions. The current research is based on the selection of superior lines or potential varieties with high genetic merit using the restricted maximum likelihood/standardized best linear unbiased predictor (REML/BLUPe) procedure. Sixty advanced lines and four commercial varieties were tested in an 8x8 alpha lattice design. Grain yield (GY) oscillated between 1,117 and 4,431 kg ha-1, the population average yield was 2,682 kg ha-1, and BLUPe predictors ranged between 5.37 and -3.71. With a t-test at a significance of 5% (1.67) and a predictor comparator of (t1-t2)≥1.67 (√2), six outstanding lines were identified with superior BLUPe values compared to the mean (P<0.05) and GY>3,500 kg ha-1. In descending order (kg ha-1), the GY was: L-041 (4,431), L-019 (4,326), L-104 (3,923), L-149 (3,832), L-202 (3,536), and L-201 (3,519 kg ha-1). The BLUPe standardized predictor allowed an effective selection (92%) of lines.