A soja é um dos alimentos mais completos conhecidos pelo homem. A soja hortaliça ou \"edamame\" pertence à mesma espécie da soja cultivada para grãos, Glycine max (L.) Merrill. Edamame é um nome de origem japonesa usado para um tipo de soja consumida no estádio imaturo R6 e, também, caracterizada por terem vagens e grãos de tamanho grande, melhor textura e sabor. Apresenta grande potencial nutracêutico, favorecendo a manutenção da saúde e a redução dos riscos de diversas doenças crônicas. Os principais objetivos deste trabalho foram: a) estimar parâmetros genéticos úteis ao melhoramento, especialmente a interação genótipos x ambientes; b) avaliar adaptabilidade e estabilidade dos genótipos e a representatividade de ambientes; c) caracterizar os cruzamentos e suas progênies visando-se à extração de linhagens superiores. Os genótipos compreendem 42 progênies nas gerações F6:10 a F6:13 de 23 cruzamentos e três testemunhas (BRS 257, BRS 267 e IAC 100). As avaliações experimentais foram feitas em dois estádios de desenvolvimento, soja imatura R6 (dois anos agrícolas, 2011/12 e 2012/13) e soja matura R8 (quatro anos agrícolas, de 2009/10 a 2012/13). Os quatro anos agrícolas e três locais (Anhumas, Areão e ESALQ) foram combinados em nove ambientes. Em cada ambiente foram realizados dois experimentos envolvendo manejos distintos de fungicidas; no primeiro experimento foram feitas aplicações sucessivas de fungicidas para controle da ferrugem asiática da soja (FAS) e das doenças de final de ciclo (DFC), enquanto que no segundo experimento foram aplicados fungicidas para controle somente das DFC. Cada experimento foi delineado em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições. Cada repetição foi estratificada em dois conjuntos experimentais com testemunhas comuns, cada um deles conformando um bloco aumentado de Federer. A parcela experimental foi uma fileira com 5 metros x 0,50 m. As fontes de variação \"anos\", \"locais\" e \"fungicidas\" contribuíram significativamente na interação entre genótipos e ambientes, em ambos os estádios R6 e R8. Para a produtividade de vagens (PV) em R6, o método de Eberhart e Russell destacou quatro cruzamentos (19-005: USP 98-06.005 x J-75, 19-006: USP 98-06.005 x Hakucho, 19-045: USP 98-06.031 x Hakucho e 19-111: USP 98-06.029 x OCEPAR-4), gerando 15 progênies (destaques para 19-045-03-01 e 19-111-02-06) com alto potencial para uso como genitores e ou cultivares. A análise AMMI revelou que a grande maioria dos genótipos mostraram-se estáveis e com PV em torno de 150 g/2plantas. O maior destaque ficou com a progênie 19-111-01-09, com desempenho muito favorável para os caracteres de R6, alta produtividade de grãos (PG) e tolerância à ferrugem em R8. Para o estádio R8, o efeito de locais determinou que Areão foi o melhor local, para PG e peso de cem sementes (PSC). Para o estádio R6, o efeito de anos indicou que o ano agrícola 2012/13 foi o que mais favoreceu o desempenho das progênies para todos os caracteres. Foram detectadas correlações altas e significativas entre os caracteres PCS em R8 e peso de cem vagens em R6 (0,808**), bem como entre PCS e largura das vagens em R6 (0,725**). / Soybean is one of the most complete food known by the human being. The vegetable soybean or \"edamame\" belongs to the same species of the soybean cultivated as commodity, Glycine max (L.) Merrill. Edamame is a name with Japanese origin used for maintenance and reduction of the risks of several chronic diseases. The main objectives of this study were: a) to estimate useful genetic parameters to the breeding program of soybean vegetable, specially the genotype x environment interaction; b) to evaluate adaptability and stability of the genotypes and the representativeness of the environments; c) to characterize crosses and their progenies aiming the extraction of superior inbred lines. The genotypes corresponded to 23 crosses and their 42 progenies in advanced generations of inbreeding, that is from F6:10 to F6:13 generation, besides three common checks (BRS 257, BRS 267, and IAC 100). They were evaluated in two developmental stages, immature R6 and mature R8 soybean, during two (2011/12 and 2012/13) and four (2009/10 to 2012/13) growing seasons, respectively. The four crop years and three locations (Anhumas, Areão and ESALQ) were combined in nine environments. In each environment, there were carried out two experiments involving two fungicide managements; in the first experiment, there were made successive fungicide applications for controlling Asian soybean rust (FAS) and late season leaf diseases (DFC), whereas in the second experiment there were made fungicide applications for controlling only DFC. Each experiment was designed in a randomized complete-block design with three replications. Each repetition was divided into two experimental sets with common checks, forming an augmented design (Federer). The experimental plot was a row with 5 m x 0.50 m. The \"crop years\", \"locations\" and \"fungicides\" contributed significantly to the genotypes x environments interactions in both R6 and R8 stages. For pod yield (PV) in the R6 stage, the Eberhart and Russell method highlighted four crossings (19-005: USP 98-06005 x J-75, 19- 006: USP 98-06005 x Hakucho, 19-045: USP 98-06031 x Hakucho and 19 -111: USP 98- 06029 OCEPAR-4), generating 15 progenies (especially the numbers 19-045-03-01 and 19- 111-02-06) with the highest potential to be used as parents and or as new cultivars. The biggest highlight was the progeny 19-111-01-09, with very favorable performance for R6 traits, high seed yield (PG) and tolerance to rust in R8. The AMMI analysis revealed that almost all genotypes were stable and with PV around 150 g/2plants. For the R8 stage, the location effect determined that Areão was the best location for PG and one hundred seed weight (PCS). For the R6 stage, the year effect indicated that the crop year 2012/13 was the most favorable for the progeny performance for all traits. There were estimated highly significant correlation between PCS in R8 and one hundred pod weight in R6 (0.808 **), as well as between PCS and pod width in R6 stage (0.725**).

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) occupies an important position in the world economy of the feedstock of high quality protein and vegetable oils. However, its production is threatened by, Asian soybean rust (ASR), caused by the rust fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd. & P. Syd. This fungus is highly dependent on environmental conditions, has a wide range of hosts, and evolves rapidly into novel races, making it difficult to control. In addition, most commercial varieties are susceptible to rust, the rust has already developed resistance to triazole fungicides, and most small-scale farmers cannot afford expensive systemic fungicides to control the disease. The use of resistant varieties is the most viable, long-term option to manage ASR, especially in the small-holder soybean farming sector. This study was therefore designed to undertake the following goals: (i) to identify farmers’ preferred varieties and desired traits, their knowledge of ASR, and other key constraints affecting soybean production in Kenya; (ii) to evaluate soybean accessions for rust resistance, and to determine the correlation of rust resistance with other agronomic traits; (iii) to determine the mode of inheritance for ASR resistance and selected agronomic traits; and (iv) to determine yield stability of soybean advanced lines at multiple sites in Central and Eastern Kenya. To understand farmers’ preferred varietal characteristics, knowledge of ASR and other key constraints to soybean production, a survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire in the major soybean growing areas of Kenya. The farmers preferred local varieties because of their desirable characteristics, which included high yields, early maturity, drought tolerance and seed availability. Although the majority of the participating farmers expressed a willingness to grow improved varieties, financial limitations, seed unavailability and lack of information were the major barriers to their use of improved varieties. High yield, early maturity, adaptability and grain quality were the traits that most farmers sought in an ideal soybean variety. Knowledge of the cause of ASR was limited, and its occurrence was largely attributed to environmental factors, poor soil fertility conditions, poor agronomic practices, physiological maturity and specific species of weeds. Their investments in control methods were minimal due to a lack of technical knowledge, poor access to fungicides, and limited resources. Other constraints faced by soybean farmers included: lack of access to grain markets; lack of knowledge in processing and utilization of soybean grain; the unavailability of seeds; losses to pests and diseases; the lack of inputs such as fertilizers; frequent dry spells; and low yielding varieties. A total of 110 soybean accessions were evaluated for their rust reactions and correlations with selected agronomic traits. These included plant introductions possessing single rust resistant genes (Rpp1-4), tolerant lines, gene bank accessions, commercial varieties and advanced lines. Soybean genotypes varied significantly in their reactions to rust severity, sporulation, lesion type and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values. Genotypes possessing Rpp4 (G10428) and Rpp2 (G8586) resistant genes, and non-characterized genotypes MAK BLD 11.3, GC 00138-29 and Namsoy 4M, were the most resistant accessions, as indicated by low rust severity scores, low AUDPC values, red brown lesions and low sporulation scores. Other genotypes with known resistant genes including G7955 (Rpp3), G58 and Tainung 4 (Rpp1), a few tolerant lines, and one advanced line (BRS Sambaiba) were moderately resistant. All the other advanced lines, commercial varieties, gene bank accessions and collections from the farmers’ fields were highly susceptible to rust. Rust severity was positively correlated with rust sporulation, indicating that reduction of sporulation made a significant contribution towards rust resistance. An F2 population was generated from a half diallel mating design, involving 4 resistant, 2 moderately resistant and 2 susceptible genotypes selected as parents. The F2 populations along with their parents were evaluated in two environments to determine the type of gene action for rust resistance and other quantitative traits in soybeans. The results revealed that both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant for most of the traits studied, indicating that both additive gene action and non-additive gene action played a major role in the inheritance of rust resistance and selected agronomic traits. The GCA/SCA ratio was close to unity for rust severity, rust sporulation, days to flowering, days to maturity and plant height. This indicated that additive gene action played a more significant role in the inheritance of these traits than non-additive gene action. Non-additive gene action was only predominant for soybean grain yield. Parental lines G10428, G8586 and Namsoy 4M were the best general combiners for improving rust resistance across the environments. The most promising parents for early flowering were G7955, G8586 and G58. Parent Maksoy 1N was the best general combiner for early maturity while parents Maksoy 1N, G58, G7955 and Nyala contributed effectively towards reduced plant height. Yield stability analysis was conducted for 30 genotypes in 6 environments, using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), genotype main effect and genotype x environment interaction (GGE) biplot analyses. Genotypes 916/5/19 and G7955 were identified as the high yielding and most stable across the environments. On the other hand, genotypes BRS MG46 and Sable were high yielding but unstable and specifically suitable for the environments EM2 and MW2, respectively (both environments have long rainy seasons). Environment EM2 was identified as the most discriminating and representative among the six environments. Environments IG1 and MW1 (short rainy seasons) were less informative on genotypes tested, as confirmed by short environment vectors. Environment EM1 was better for discriminating genotypes but was a poor representative of the test environments, hence it should only be utilized for developing specifically adapted genotypes. Further analysis using GGE biplot approach grouped the environments into three putative mega-environments in Central and Eastern Kenya. Overall, this study established the need to educate farmers on the cause of ASR, to develop ASR resistant varieties, and to incorporate farmers’ desired traits in the breeding programme, especially by the use of participatory breeding approaches. The resistant and moderately resistant genotypes identified in this study could be used as sources of resistant genes to develop ASR resistant varieties in Kenya. This study also established that genetic improvement for ASR resistance and selected agronomic traits in soybeans is possible based on the use of recurrent selection breeding procedures that result in the accumulation of additive gene effects. Selection of late segregating generations would be effective for soybean grain yield improvement. This study identified potential parents for ASR resistance and selected agronomic traits, but they require further breeding to improve on farmers’ desired traits. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Soybean rust (SBR), caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd., is a real threat to soybean crops in South Africa. Its ability to spread rapidly and its potential to severely reduce yields have earned it the reputation as the most destructive foliar disease of soybeans. SBR has been reported in South Africa every year since its arrival in 2001. While extensive research had been done on the epidemiology and fungicide application requirements in South Africa, no work into the long term climatic vulnerability of soybean production areas to SBR had been done. This meant soybean producers do not know whether SBR is a threat in their areas. Through this research a SBR algorithm was developed using readily available climate data, viz. temperature and rainfall, to create a daily index specifying the climatic vulnerability of SBR infection. The algorithm was applied to a 50 year historical climate database, and a series of maps was created illustrating the long term vulnerability of different areas to SBR infection. These maps allow soybean producers to understand the climatic vulnerability of their area to SBR infection. Time series graphs were created for selected key soybean production areas to allow soybean producers to distinguish periods of high and low climatic risk during the season. This may help with decisions regarding the planting times, the maturation rate of different cultivars as well as the timing and application of fungicides. The framework for a near real time forecasting system was created outlining how the system could amalgamate recently recorded and forecasted weather data, run it through the SBR algorithm and provide a near real time, as well as forecasted vulnerability, based on the climatic conductivity for SBR infection. Anticipated limitations and difficulties on developing the forecasting system are also outlined. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar e estimar a adaptabilidade e a estabilidade de 24 populações e quantificar a divergência genética entre 480 (20 linhagens x 24 populações) linhagens de soja, por meio de caracteres agromorfológicos. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em três locais (Anhumas, Areão e ESALQ), localizados no município de Piracicaba - SP. Nos anos agrícolas 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10 e 2011/12 foram realizados dois experimentos por ano, delineados em blocos ao acaso e constituídos por repetições estratificadas em dois conjuntos experimentais, formados por 12 populações e duas testemunhas comuns (BRS 133 e Monsoy 8001 ou Conquista). Em 2011/12, de cada uma das 24 populações, foram colhidas, trilhadas e pesadas as sementes de 36 plantas individuais; a seguir, foram selecionadas as 20 plantas (linhagens F15:16) mais produtivas para compor os experimentos de 2012/13; em 2013/14, foram avaliadas as linhagens F15:17; foram realizados dois experimentos por ano, no delineamento de blocos aumentados de Federer, estratificando-se as 480 linhagens em 24 conjuntos experimentais; cada conjunto recebeu as 20 linhagens de uma dada população, mais as duas testemunhas comuns (BRS 133 e Monsoy 8001), totalizando 22 parcelas. Em todos os anos agrícolas foram conduzidos dois experimentos vizinhos, um com manejo FAS, que recebeu aplicações sucessivas de fungicidas para controle da ferrugem asiática e outras doenças de fim de ciclo (DFC); e, outro experimento com manejo DFC, no qual foram feitas aplicações de um fungicida que controla as DFC, exceto a ferrugem. Vinte caracteres agromorfológicos foram avaliados e também foram estimadas as taxas de reação à ferrugem baseada na produtividade de grãos (FP) e no tamanho das sementes (FT, representado pelo peso de cem sementes); FP e FT foram estimadas para cada genótipo, calculando-se a diferença entre as médias ajustadas nos manejos DFC e FAS, dividindo-se pela média DFC e multiplicando por 100. Para a análise de adaptabilidade e estabilidade, foram utilizados os métodos de Eberhart e Russel e AMMI. No estudo de divergência genética foi usada a distância Euclidiana Média, e os agrupamentos foram obtidos pelo Método de Tocher. Com exceção da cor do tegumento, uniformemente amarelo, foi observada variabilidade genética para todos os demais 19 caracteres, incluindo-se as FP e FT. A população USP 98-13.009 (P21) destacou-se por apresentar médias relativamente altas para produtividade de grãos e para peso de cem sementes e níveis satisfatórios de tolerância à ferrugem. As metodologias Eberhart & Russel e AMMI foram capazes de identificar populações comuns, com médias elevadas para produtividade de grãos, com estabilidade de produtividade e adaptadas aos 16 ambientes em estudo. Os ambientes, principalmente os locais, foram bem distinguidos pela metodologia AMMI. Na análise de divergência, a variabilidade genética, permitiu a observação de linhagens dissimilares. Foram observados diferentes tipos de agrupamento para os experimentos com manejo de doenças (manejos FAS, DFC e combinação FAS + DFC), o que pode ser explicado pela interação genótipos x anos. O agrupamento realizado com os dados obtidos nos experimentos combinados dos manejos (FAS + DFC) foi o mais conciso e adequado com a dissimilaridade entre as linhagens. / This work aimed to characterize and to estimate adaptability and stability of 24 populations, besides to quantify the genetic divergence between 480 (20 lines x 24 populations) lines of soybean, through agromorphological characters. The experiments were conducted in three locations (Anhumas, Areão, ESALQ), located in Piracicaba - SP. In the crop years 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2011/12, were performed two experiments per year in randomized complete block design, consisting of replications stratified in two experimental sets, constituted by 12 populations and two common checks (BRS 133 and Monsoy 8001 or Conquista). In 2011/12, in each of the 24 populations were harvested, trashed and weighted the seeds of 36 individual plants; then, the most productive 20 plants were selected for obtaining F15:16 lines and composing the experiments of 2012/13; in 2013/14, were evaluated the F15:17 lines. There were conducted two experiments per year designed in augmented block of Federer, by stratifying the 480 soybean lines in 24 experimental sets. Each set consisted of 20 lines of a given population and two common checks (BRS 133 and Monsoy 8001), totaling 22 plots. In each year, there were conducted two experiments, one with FAS management which received successive applications of fungicides for controlling the Asian soybean rust and other late season leaf diseases (DFC); the other experiment received the DFC management in which it was made applications of a fungicide to control the DFC, except rust. Twenty agromorphological characters were evaluated and also estimated the rate of reaction to rust based on seed yield (FP) and seed size (FT, represented by the weight of one hundred seeds or PCS); FP and FT were estimated for each genotype, by calculating the difference between the adjusted means in DFC and FAS managements, dividing by DFC mean and multiplying by 100. For the analysis of adaptability and stability were used Eberhart & Russell and AMMI methods. In the study of genetic divergence was used the Average Mean Euclidean distance, and the clusters was obtained by Tocher method. With exception of color of seed coat, with an uniform yellow color, it was observed genetic variability for the other 19 traits, including FP and FT. The USP 98-13.009 (P21) population highlighted by present relatively high averages for seed yield and weight of one hundred seeds, besides the satisfactory levels of rust tolerance. Both methodologies, Eberhart & Russell and AMMI, were able to identify common populations with high means of seed yield, yield stability and adaptation to of the 16 environments in study. The environments, mainly locations, were well distinguished by the AMMI methodology. In the divergence analysis, the genetic variability allowed the observation of dissimilar lines. Different types of clusters were observed for disease managements (FAS, DFC, and FAS + DFC) which could be explained by the genotypes x years interaction. The grouping performed with the combination FAS + DFC data was the more concise and appropriate to estimate the dissimilarity among lines.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Aiming to evaluate the response of ten soybean cultivars subjected to three arrangements of plants and eight fungicide programs in terms of expression and the development of Asian rust, penetration of light on the canopy, productivity and yield components of soybean experiment was conducted during the 2008/2009 season, in Itaara / RS. In the field, cultivars FCep 55, BMX Apollo, BMX Titan, BRS 243, A 8000, CD 214, NK 70, BRS Pampa, FCep 59 and Monasca were subjected to densities off 160, 300 and 440 thousand plants ha-1 and eight programs fungicide management: P1- treatment control, P2 - epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin with application to closing the row space and 21 days after the first application; P3 - epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin application to closing the row space and 28 days; P4 - epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin with application in R1 and 21 days; P5 - epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin with applications closing the row space, 21 days after the first application and the third application 14 days after the second; P6 - tebuconazole + carbendazin with application in closing the row space and 21 days after the first application; P7 - tebuconazole + carbendazin application to close row space and 28 days after and P8 - tebuconazole + carbendazin with application in R1 and 21 days. The variables were: percentage of light penetration within the canopy, Area under the progress disease curve (AUPDC), grain yield and yield components. The experimental design was a randomized block, with 4 replications and three-way design (10 cultivars x 3 planting densities x 8 fungicide management programs). For percentage of light penetration in the canopy, BMX Apollo cultivar performed better with values close to 1% when subjected to higher density. For the variables AUPDC and productivity cultivars might be grouped as responsive, not responsive and unresponsive to reduce the plant population. The responsive cultivars for AUPDC were FCep55, BMX Apollo, BRS 243, CD 214, has had this behavior to yield the cultivars FCep 55, A 8000, BMX Titan, BRS 243 and NK 70. Management programs had the same trend for these two variables where the program with three applications of epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin showed lower AUPDC value and higher yield. The number of branches per plant showed that all cultivars reduce the production of branches when exposed to high density, which resulted in condensing the grain on the main stem, especially the cultivar BMX Apollo that concentrated 99.84% of the grain on the main stem and the higher density was only 0.02 branches for plant. For the yield components number of pods for m2 and number of grains for pod was significant difference only for the cultivars and plant density. For densities, the higher density of plants resulted in reducing the number of pods for area, grains per pod, among the cultivars NK 70 showed the highest number of pods for m2 and the cultivar BMX Apollo largest number of grains for pod. The mass of 1000 grains was the variable with little variation among worked. There interaction between programs and cultivars, where the maturity cultivars achieved the largest masses. For the participation of thirds in the number of pods, there was only difference among cultivars where the variability of response between the cultivars shows that this variable has genetic domain. / Com o objetivo de avaliar a resposta de dez cultivares de soja submetidas a três arranjos de plantas e à aplicação de oito programas de manejo fungicida no que tange à expressão e ao desenvolvimento da ferrugem asiática, penetração de luminosidade no dossel vegetativo, produtividade e componentes da produtividade da cultura da soja foi realizado experimento durante a safra agrícola 2008/2009, em Itaara/RS. Em campo, as cultivares FCep 55, BMX Apolo, BMX Titan, BRS 243, A 8000,CD 214,NK 70, BRS Pampa, FCep 59 e Monasca foram submetidas às densidades 160, 300 e 440 mil plantas ha-1 e a oito programas de manejo fungicida: P1- testemunha, P2 epoxiconazol +piraclostrobina com aplicação no fechamento da entre linha e 21 dias após a primeira aplicação; P3 epoxiconazol + piraclostrobina aplicado no fechamento da entre linha e 28 dias após; P4 epoxiconazol + piraclostrobina com aplicação em R1 e 21 dias após; P5 epoxiconazol + piraclostrobina com aplicações em fechamento das entre linhas, 21 dias após a primeira aplicação e com terceira aplicação 14 dias após a segunda; P6 tebuconazol + carbendazin com aplicação no fechamento da entre linha e 21 dias após a primeira aplicação; P7 tebuconazol + carbendazin aplicado no fechamento da entre linha e 28 dias após e P8 tebuconazol + carbendazin com aplicação em R1 e 21 dias após. As variáveis avaliadas foram: percentual de penetração de luz no dossel vegetativo, área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD), rendimento de grãos e componentes do rendimento. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com 4 repetições, no esquema trifatorial (10 cultivares x 3 densidades de plantas x 8 programas de manejo fungicida). Para a variável percentual de penetração de luz no dossel vegetativo, a cultivar BMX Apolo obteve melhor desempenho com valores próximos a 1% quando submetida à maior densidade. Para as variáveis AACPD e produtividade, as cultivares puderam ser agrupadas como responsivas, não- responsivas e indiferentes à redução da população de plantas. As cultivares responsivas para AACPD foram FCep 55, BMX Apolo, BRS 243, CD 214, já para produtividade tiveram esse comportamento as cultivares FCep 55, A 8000, BMX Titan, BRS 243 e NK 70. Os programas de manejo tiveram a mesma tendência para essas duas variáveis, onde o programa com três aplicações de epoxiconazol + piraclostrobina apresentou menor valor de AACPD e maior rendimento. O número de ramos por planta mostrou que todas as cultivares reduzem a produção de ramos quando expostos a condições adensamento, o que refletiu em concentração da massa de grãos na haste principal, com destaque para a cultivar BMX Apolo que concentrou 99,84% da massa de grãos na haste principal e na maior densidade teve apenas 0,02 ramos por planta. Para os componentes do rendimento número de legumes por m2 e número de grãos por legume, houve diferença significativa somente para os fatores cultivares e densidade de plantas isoladamente. Para as densidades, o adensamento de plantas resultou na redução do número de legumes por unidade de área e de grãos por legume, já entre as cultivares, a cultivar NK 70 apresentou o maior número de legumes por m2 e a cultivar BMX Apolo, o maior número de grãos por legume. A massa de 1000 grãos foi a variável com menor variação dentre as trabalhadas, havendo interação entre os programas e as cultivares, onde as cultivares de ciclo precoce obtiveram as maiores massas. Para a participação dos terços no número de legumes, houve diferença somente entre as cultivares onde a variabilidade de resposta entre os materiais aponta para que essa variável tenha domínio genético.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (Ph.D)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.