Agronomic performance of modern soybean cultivars in multi-environment trials

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productive performance, and the adaptability and stability parameters of modern soybean (Glycine max) cultivars in multi-environment trials, as well as to identify the ideal genotypes for eight growing environments in Brazil. A randomized complete block experimental design was carried out, with three replicates, for the evaluation of 46 soybean cultivars in eight environments, in the microregions of adaptation 102, 201, and 202, in the 2014/2015 crop season. A complex genotype x environment interaction occurred, with changes in the ranking of genotypes among locations. The NA 5909 RG, M6410IPRO, NS 5959 IPRO, NS6823RR, M5917IPRO, NS 6767 RR, and 6563RSF IPRO cultivars showed the highest mean yields. The NA 5909 RG, NS6823RR, M6410IPRO, and NS 5959 IPRO cultivars showed high adaptability and stability and high grain yield, in the evaluated environments, and were ranked next to the ideal genotype for the analyzed environments. There are modern soybean cultivars, which are adapted, stable, and highly productive, for cultivation in the microregions 102, 201, and 202 for soybean crop adaptation in Brazil.