Introduction to the soybean variety Gongdou No. 8 (Gong No. 91-1)

(1) Variety source: Bred by the Zigong City Academy of Agricultural Sciences through hybridization of Gongdou No. 7 with D11-1 (an elite line from a cross between Zao Shu No. 6 and a selected line of Aijiao Zao).

(2) Characteristics: This variety is high-yielding, stable-yielding, large-seeded, lodging-resistant, and resistant to viral diseases. The whole growth period is 104 days, 3.5 days longer than the control; disease resistance is grade 1.45, 0.6 grade milder than the control; lodging resistance is grade 1.1, stronger than the control; the complete-seed rate reaches 90.9%; 100-seed weight is 23.2 grams, 5.8 grams higher than the control; protein content is 42.5%, and fat content is 20.1%. The plant height of this variety is 49.6 cm. It has relatively few branches (average 1.3), a compact plant type, upright growth, determinate pod-setting habit, white flowers, brown pubescence, yellow seed coat, black hilum, and oval seeds. The pods are slightly curved and sickle-shaped.

(3) Yield performance: In the 1993 regional trial, the average yield at 7 locations was 133.8 kg per mu, 15.84% higher than the control (Aijiao Zao); in 1994, the average yield at 8 locations was 127.0 kg per mu, 16.3% higher than the control; the two-year average yield was 130.4 kg per mu, 16.07% higher than the control. In the 1995 three-location production trial, the average yield was 126.3 kg per mu, 24.47% higher than the control.

(4) Suitable planting areas: This variety is suitable for planting in the vast areas within and around the basin of our province. It can be used both as a sole crop and as an intercrop or relay-intercrop variety.