Heritability and the genotype × environment interaction in soybean

The objectives of this study were to examine the implication of the genotype × environment interaction (G × E) in the identification of genetically superior soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] progenies; to obtain estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for agronomic traits in soybean progenies; and to select genetically superior progenies to obtain lineages. Progenies F3:4 were evaluated in the municipalities of Lavras‐MG and Itutinga‐MG, Brazil, in the agricultural year 2016–2017. Progenies F3:5 were evaluated in the summer of 2017–2018 in the municipalities of Lavras‐MG, Itutinga‐MG, and Ijaci‐MG. The traits of days to flowering, days to full maturity, plant height, bottom pod height, lodging, and grain yield were evaluated. The genetic and phenotypic parameters, expected gain from selection, genetic correlation, correlated response, achieved heritability, and frequency distribution of the adjusted means were estimated. The estimates of the components of variance showed the existence of variability among the progenies, enabling the selection of superior genotypes. There was an effect of the G × E interaction for all traits, and most of the interaction was due to complex interaction. From the analysis of genotypic correlation, significant estimates were observed between the traits. The G × E interaction affected the estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters in the soybean, and the achieved heritability is a tool to study this interaction.