The present paper reports preliminary data on the behavior of a group of soybean varieties obtained in experiments carried out by the Genetics Division of the Instituto Agronômico de Campinas. Seeds of these varieties were collected in various parts of the state or introduced from foreign countries. Results of a field trial with commercial varieties, as well as observations on the agronomical characters of some of the most promising types, are included. Most of the newly introduced varieties were inferior to Abura, the variety recommended by the Secretaria da Agricultura for planting in the state of São Paulo. The varieties Paraná Tardia and Yelnando gave high yelds, and those of the varieties Nova Granada, Pereira Barreto, IA 455, and La 41-1219 could not be measured accurately because their plots had a low stand. Observations on the agronomical characters of 18 varieties were made at Campinas. Resistance to root-knot (Meloidogyne sp.) was found in Palmetto and La 41-1219 ; high oil and protein content was found in Aliança Preta, Yelnando, La 41-1219, Cotia 14, and Acadian ; non-shattering and resistance to lodging was found in IA 455, Paraná Tardia, Pereira Barreto, Aliança and Nova Granada: CNS showed resistance to bacterial pustule. Favorable factors for plant size, height of insertion of first branch, and late maturity were found in Aliança Preta. Characteristicis such as color of seed coat, flower color, pubescence color, seed size, and cracking of seed coat were recorded for most varieties