GENETIC VARIABILITY AND CHARACTER ASSOCIATION OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max L. Merr.)

Abstract

The present research work was conducted to study the genetic diversity analysis of soybean during the period from December 2017 to May 2018 in rabi season in the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-eBangla Nagar,

Dhaka. In this experiment, 22 soybean genotypes were used as experimental materials. Mean performance, variability, correlation, path analysis and genetic diversity analysis on different yield attributes and yield of soybean genotypes was estimated. Analysis of variance for each trait showed significant differences among the genotypes except pod wide, seed per pod, seed yield per plot and seed yield per hectare. In correlation study, highly significant positive association was recorded for seed yield of soybean genotypes with first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days to physiological, days to harvest maturity, plant height, number of branch per plant, number of pod per plant, seed yield per plant and yield per plot. Path coefficient analysis evidenced that 50% flowering, day to physiological maturity, plant height, number of branch per plant, pod per plant, 100 seed weight and yield per plot had the positive direct effect on yield per plant. Therefore, importance has to be given for these characters in the further breeding program to improve soybean yield. Multivariate analysis based on fifteen characters of twenty-two soybean genotypes was divided into three distant clusters. The maximum contribution of traits towards diversity was observed by first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days to physical maturity, days to harvest maturity, plant height, number of main branches per plant and pod length. As a result, these traits could be emphasized during the selection of parents for hybridization. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster I and II and the maximum intra cluster distance was found in cluster I. Considering group distance and other agro-morphogenic performance, genotypes G2 (GM0009) and G13 (GM0014) found the potential for future hybridization program in the response of increase soybean yield.