Genotype-by-environment interaction informs selection for seed physiological quality and stink bug tolerance in...

Stink bugs are among the most economically important pest complexes in soybean, causing direct injury to developing seeds, reducing physiological quality, and increasing reliance on insecticide-based control. Although host plant tolerance is a central component of integrated pest management (IPM), its contribution to stabilizing seed physiological performance under field infestation remains insufficiently characterized within a genotype-by-environment interaction. We evaluated two contrasting parental lines and 12 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) across two soybean-growing regions in Brazil under contrasting management scenarios (with and without insecticide application). Eight seed physiological traits related to germination, vigor, and longevity were assessed to determine the stability of host plant responses under stink bug exposure.

Environmental effects predominated for early vigor traits, whereas seed longevity showed comparatively stronger genetic control. RILs 109, 186, and 227, together with the tolerant parent IAC-100, maintained superior seed physiological performance under infestation, including in the absence of insecticide application. The Anhumas without insecticide-based control environment provided the highest discriminatory power for identifying tolerant materials. Moderate to strong positive correlations among physiological traits suggest that longevity can serve as a robust decision trait to anticipate broader seed performance under pest stress.

These findings demonstrate that host plant tolerance can mitigate stink bug-induced losses in seed quality and support the integration of tolerant cultivars into sustainable pest management strategies, potentially reducing dependence on insecticides while enhancing production stability. This supports cultivar deployment as a proactive IPM tactic to buffer seed quality losses when chemical control is limited or inconsistent. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.