Asana

Soybean

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Marula' and 'OAC Wallace'

Summary: When 50% of the flowers are open, 'Asana' has a pointed ovate lateral leaflet whereas the lateral leaflet of 'OAC Wallace' has a triangular shape. When 95% of the pods are ripe, the plants of 'Asana' mature earlier than the plants of 'OAC Wallace'. At maturity, the seed of 'Asana' is medium sized whereas the seed of 'OAC Wallace' is small. The colour of the hilum on 'Asana' is imperfect yellow whereas it is dark brown on 'OAC Wallace'. The seed weight of 'Asana' is less than that of 'Marula'.

Description:

HYPOCOTYL: anthocyanin colouration present

PLANT: oilseed type, indeterminate growth type, erect branch attitude, tawny pubescence on middle third of main stem, begins flowering early to mid-season, matures mid-season.

LEAF: pointed ovate lateral leaflet

FLOWER: violet
SEED: medium size, yellow ground colour of testa
HILUM: imperfect yellow

Origin & Breeding History: 'Asana' (experimental designation PR110308Z030) originated from a biparental cross conducted in 2011 in Saint-Cesaire, Quebec, Canada. A modified single seed descent method was used to develop the variety. From 2012 to 2013, the F1 to F3 generations were grown and harvested in bulk in Massai, Chile and Saint-Cesaire, Quebec. In 2013, individual plants were selected from the F4 generation in Saint-Cesaire based on visual assessment of lodging resistance, yield, maturity, and disease resistance. From 2015 to 2016, 'Asana' was tested in replicated private trials in Quebec and Ontario and, based on its performance, advanced to public trials in Quebec and Ontario starting in 2017. At the F9 generation, row plots were grown, and selections made for uniformity in flower colour, pod colour, pubescence colour, hilum colour, seed weight as well as protein and oil content to produce breeder seed.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'Asana' were conducted in 2020 and 2021 at the research farm in Saint-Cesaire, Quebec, Canada. The trials were arranged in a RCB design with 2 replicates per variety. Each 14 square metre plot consisted of 2 rows, each 5 metres long with inter-row spacing 0.76 metres. Plants were spaced 0.033 metres apart and the planting density resulted in a total of 350 plants per variety. Measurements were taken from 20 plants or parts of 20 plants of each variety per year except for the seed weight with 5 measurements per variety per year. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on LSD values.

Comparison tables for 'Asana' with reference varieties 'Marula' and 'OAC Wallace'

Seed weight (grams per 100 seeds) (g)

Time of maturity (number of days from planting to maturity)

Click on image for larger view

Soybean: 'Asana' (left) with reference varieties 'Marula' (centre) and 'OAC Wallace' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Soybean: 'Asana' (top) with reference varieties 'Marula' (centre) and 'OAC Wallace' (bottom)