Prospects and directions for soybean breeding in Russia under implementation conditions of the national strategy of import substitution

The positive dynamics in increase of soybean production volumes in the Russian Federation is determined by a number of factors. Among them: the consistently high international and Russian prices for soybean seeds, improving of the economic condition of the domestic agriculture, increase of soybean breeding efficiency in Russia. Amounts of soybean seeds produced in recent years are insufficient to switch on the Russian soybean processing industry on domestic seeds. There are additional reserves for the expansion of planting area in Russia, in traditional and new regions of soybean cultivation. Therewith, an effective breeding of domestic soybean cultivars contributes the increase in Russian domestic soybean production. Therefore, in potential, the soybean areas in Russia can increase up to 5-6 mln ha, which will provide up to 7 mln t of commercial seeds. In Russia, soybean is cultivated in colder, and often in poorer moisture conditions that determine a lower yield compared3 with other countries. The number of foreign soybean cultivars allowed for cultivation, which are poorly adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of Russia, exceeded 30% of the total number of registered cultivars. However, their average yield is markedly lower in comparison with domestic varieties. As a part of the import substitution strategy it is necessary to activate the breeding of competitive domestic soybean cultivars. Their advantages should be: higher yield, compared with foreign cultivars, even under optimal growing conditions; better adaptation to the local climatic conditions; reduced demands to growing conditions; and the ability to generate profitable seed yields under a lack of heat and water; have an increased resistance to the main pathogens, to pod shattering, and with high adaptability to the mechanical cultivation and harvesting.