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This study aims to identify the phenotypic effects of traits associated with soybean pods and their growth habit. The experiments were carried out during the 2012 - 2013 agricultural year. It was done in randomized blocks arranged in a 2×20 factorial design (environments × soybean cultivars) with three replications. Data were subjected to individual analysis of variance for each environment and growth habit to verify the homogeneity of variances. Phenotypic path analysis among agronomic traits was performed for each environment within the soybean growth habits. The results showed considerable influences of growth habit via traits associated with soybean pods. The traits number of pods with two, three, and four grains directly influenced the grain yield of genotypes with indeterminate growth habit regardless of the environment. The soybean genotypes with determinate growth habit contributed greatly to grain yield through the traits number of pods with one, two, and three grains and thousand grain weight via pods with two or four grains. Indirect selection of superior genotypes for pods per plant and grain weight could provide satisfactory results for soybean yield in relation to the growth habit. The interrelationships obtained between growth habits and environments, can be applied to superior genotypes selection strategies in breeding soybean programs. Key words: Agriculture science, biometric models, Glycine max L., indirect selection, grain yield, soybean breeding.

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the solvent retention capacity of wheat flour from three genotypes when nitrogenous fertilizer is applied at different stages of crop growth; and (ii) to evaluate the possible existence of correlations between different solvents when nitrogenous fertilizer is applied at different stages of crop growth. The experiment was conducted from June to November 2013 in Plant Breeding Laboratory and Plant Production, Federal University of Santa Maria, the experimental area is located at Frederico Westphalen, southern Brazil. The experiment consisted of 12 treatment combinations (3 genotypes and application of nitrogenous fertilizer at 4 crop growth stages) of a 3x4 factorial (genotype x nitrogenous fertilizer application) arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The genotypes Fundacep 52, TBIO Mestre and TBIO Itaipu were arranged with the tested nitrogenous fertilizer applications (I = no nitrogen, II = tillering, III = tillering and flowering and IV = tillering, booting and flowering). Greater levels of solvent retention capacity were observed in TBIO Mestre, suggesting that the genotype has good baking quality. The amount of glutenin was not affected by the stage of nitrogenous fertilization application. The water retention capacity of the flour has a strong and positive correlation with the retention capacity of the sodium carbonate and sucrose, along with the associations between the solvents sodium carbonate and sucrose. Key words: Agriculture science, plant management, plant science, quality grains, Triticum aestivum L.

The pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in wheat Triticum aestivum L. is a phenomenon that reduces productivity, degrades starch and depreciates the quality of flour. The objective was to evaluate the per se performance of traits linked to grain yield and tolerance to pre-harvest sprouting in wheat genotypes from different breeding programs in Brazil. Besides, to use indirect selection based on traits showing beneficial relationships and greater heritability than the target as a selection strategy. The study was conducted in the years 2010 and 2011 using randomized complete block design with three replications. Thirty-three genotypes of different wheat breeding programs in Brazil were evaluated. The BRS 194 and Frontana genotypes are sources of tolerance to pre-harvest sprouting in wheat. The cultivar TBIO Alvorada has PHS tolerance and high grain yield, and cultivar TBIO Ivai presenting high grain yield. The percentage of sprouted grains has negative direct relationship with the falling number in adverse cultivating environments. The falling number shows greater heritability than the percentage of sprouted grains, indicating greater reliability in selection for PHS tolerance. Key words: Triticum aestivum, pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), sprouted grains, falling number.