| Description: |
Soybean is an important leguminous crop that is mostly produced in the world due to its high protein content. However, soybean production in Benin has been hampered by low yields of around 1 ton per hectare, which is caused by many factors, including abiotic and biotic issues. The objective of this research was to evaluate the response of 28 soybean genotypes under four environments, in order to identify the best genotypes. The study was conducted at two sites in Benin: IITA-Benin (South) and Pénéssoulou in Bassila district (North) in 2 years. An alpha lattice design with 3 replications was used, and 17 quantitative variables were collected at both sites. Analysis of variance showed a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) in all variables at the level of genotype-environment interaction. The genotypes G2, G27, G18, G28, G22, and G17 are the most stable in terms of yield, and the closest to the ideal genotypes. In Environments 1 and 3, the accessions demonstrated higher yields, with G2 recording the highest yield (over 4t/ha), compared to Environments 2 and 4. We advocate for the utilization of the above high-yielding genotypes by producers, as well as for their incorporation as breeding materials to enhance soybean improvement. |