Evaluation of soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] for the Southern of Minas Gerais State

In order to generate information to help scientists technicians and producers in the determination of cultivars to be grown in summer in Lavras region, the present work was carried out at the experimental area of Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, MG Brazil on a Red Latosol (LVdf), in 2002/2003 crop season. The experimental design was composed in randomized blocks with three replications. The 45 cultivars (treatments) used in the experiment were: Doko, Pioneira, Virtuosa, Conquista, FT-104, Monarca, Monsoy 108, Monsoy 109, FT-Abyara, Performa, Lideranca, Monsoy 8400, Confianca, Splendor, UFV-16, Garantia, Renascenqa, IAC-19, FT-2000, IAC-21, CAC-1, Monsoy 8411, Suprema, Seguranca, Aventis 7002, Paiaguas, Carrera, Santa Rosa, BRS-Celeste, DM 339, BRS Carla, BRS Milena, BRS MG 68 (Vencedora), BR-9 Savana, Aventis 2056-7, STTE 02, Aventis 1043, Monsoy 8866, Monsoy 8329, Monsoy 9010, Embrapa 48, Emgopa 313, Emgopa 314, Tucano, BRS 136. All cultivars showed good grain yields, specially BRS MG 68 (4395 kg.ha(-1)), Paiaguas (3897 kg.ha(-1)), Aventis 2056-7 (3780 kg.ha-1), Monarca (3646 kg.ha(-1)) and FT 2000 (3498 kg.ha(-1)). Soybean plant and first pod height, taken by harvest time, was in the range of 0,68m to 1,53 m and of 0,08 m to 0,29m, respectively. Lodging indexes were also satisfactory for all cultivars tested. Seed quality of the cultivars were evaluated and ranged from 1,0 to 2,3 in a 1-5 scale.