Desirable Traits Influencing Grain Yield in Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

Abstract

The paper assesses the association among agronomic traits and their relation with grain yield, protein and oil contents to determine those traits that can be used during selection of soybean genotypes for high seed yield. Data for this study was obtained from a field study conducted in 2006 over two locations using 49 genotypes. Protein content was determined using micro Kjeldhal method whereas oil content was determined using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were calculated followed by path coefficient analysis to partition the correlation coefficients of traits with yield/plant into direct and indirect effects. The genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficient estimation indicated that seed yield was strongly associated with seeds/plant, pods/plant, seeds/pod, days to maturity and grain filling period. Protein content was strongly correlated with plant height, branches/plant, and days to maturity indicating consideration of these traits during selection for protein. Oil content was not associated with any character except protein content, which has got strong negative association (-0.93). Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of seeds/pod was more important than other traits, hence can be used as number one criterion for indirect selection.