Soybean Breeding through Induced Mutation in Viet Nam

Full text: In Viet Nam, soybean is one of the traditional crops and plays an important role in crop rotation, soil improvement and in meeting the nutritional need for humans and livestock. With the aim of generating genetic variability in soybean and creating new soybean varieties induced mutation research has been carried out since 80's and resulted in outstanding achievements. Induction of new traits and their incorporation in an ideal genotype was achieved by judicious use of induced mutation technique. So far, outstanding soybean varieties including DT84, DT90, DT99, DT2008, and several promising lines have been developed in Viet Nam by incorporating desirable traits like high and stable yield (2.0- 3.5ton/ha), good grain quality, drought tolerance, disease resistance (rust, powdery mildew, downy mildew), short growth duration (70-100 days), wide adaptability and suitability for crop systems and ecological regions in the whole country. These varieties have contributed to the development of soybean production in Viet Nam, increased 1.8 times of the yield from 0.78 in 1985 to 1.43ton/ha in 2015, and profiting to the production of USD millions. They have been also utilizing as materials for developing several improved soybean varieties. Thus, induced mutation research has played an important role in improving soybean varieties in Viet Nam. (author)