Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria introduces INTA Paraná 5100 and INTA Paraná 6301, two new non-transgenic soybean varieties with high protein value and adapted to growers’ needs.
In a world context where sustainability and quality are increasingly demanded in agriculture, the Soybean Breeding Program of INTA’s Paraná Agricultural Experimental Station has presented two conventional cultivars that promise to mark a before and after in soybean production. But what are the peculiarities of INTA Paraná 5100 and INTA Paraná 6301 that make them so innovative?
These non-transgenic varieties offer high yields, disease resistance, and a remarkable protein and fat content. Ignacio Vicentín, researcher of INTA’s breeding group, explained in a press release. “Both cultivars stand out for their high protein and fat content, which makes them particularly suitable for the production of quality foods with excellent nutritional value.”
Soy for a demanding market
The innovation in INTA’s genetic improvement not only aims to improve grain quality, but also to satisfy specific market niches, as Vicentín pointed out. “These cultivars stand out for their non-transgenic condition, responding to a market that demands this type of soybeans for human and animal feed.” He also pointed out that “a price premium of around US$20 per ton can be obtained in the market due to the interest in these cultivars.”
With higher average yields, INTA Paraná 5100 recorded 3951 kilograms per hectare in recent agricultural cycles, while INTA Paraná 6301 reached 4106 kilograms per hectare. These figures confirm its potential in key areas of Argentina, such as Entre Ríos, Santa Fe and Córdoba.
Resistance and quality: pillars of development
In terms of health, INTA Paraná 5100 stands out for its resistance to diseases such as stem canker (Diaporthe aspalathi), wet stem rot (Phytophthora sojae, races 1, 3, 4 and 25) and Frog-eye leaf spot (Cercospora sojina, race 11). In parallel, INTA Paraná 6301 offers moderate resistance to stem canker, and it is ideal for producing whiter flours, a characteristic demanded by the food industry.
Both cultivars developed by INTA stand out for their high nutritional value. INTA Paraná 5100 offers 42.9% protein and 21.4% fat on a dry basis, while INTA Paraná 6301 provides 38.2% protein and 23.2% fat on a dry basis. These characteristics make them ideal options for producing food for both human and animal consumption, responding to the growing demand for high-quality products in the market.
The cultivar names, Vicentín explained, are designed to make it easier for producers to identify the maturity cycle of each variety, an essential factor for planning planting and harvesting. INTA Paraná 5100 belongs to Maturity Group 5, while INTA Paraná 6301 is in Maturity Group 6. “This identification helps the producer to understand the behavior of the cultivar in terms of its cycle and in which areas of the country it can be planted,” he said.
As for the areas of adaptation, INTA Paraná 5100, being a short Maturity 5 cultivar, is ideal for the southern area of Entre Ríos, northern Buenos Aires, and the central and southern regions of Santa Fe and Córdoba. On the other hand, INTA Paraná 6301, which belongs to Maturity Group 6 short to medium, performs best in the central and northern areas of Entre Ríos, as well as in Santa Fe and Córdoba.
Innovation that has been in the field for years
The road to these innovations began almost two decades ago. The release states that the crosses to develop INTA Paraná 5100 were carried out in 2006 and for INTA Paraná 6301 in 2011. “After years of generational progress and selection based on quality, sanitary and agronomic performance, the lines that gave rise to these cultivars were selected and registered,” Vicentín explained.
Although their production and marketing are currently in the initial stages and limited to closed agreements with processors, expectations for these varieties are high.
INTA, with its constant commitment to improving the productivity and sustainability of Argentine agriculture, once again demonstrates its capacity to innovate. These seeds not only offer new opportunities for producers but also reflect the potential of technology applied to the field.
