GENETIC VARIABILITY FOR SEEDLING VIGOUR TRAITS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH SEED YIELD AND PROTEIN CONTENT IN SOYBEAN [GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERRILL]
S D TYAGI+, JYOTI SETHI+ AND VIKRANT TYAGI*
+Department of Plant Breeding and Genetic, Kisan (P.G.) College, Simbhaoli, Hapur -245207, (U.P).
*Department of Plant Breeding and Genetic, PAU, Ludhiana, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab.
* (E-mail: vikranttyagi97@gmail.com)
(Received: 10 May, 2013, Accepted: 15 July, 2013)
SUMMARY
Seed and seedling characters in 40 genotypes of soybean were studied to estimate the variability, heritability and association between them. Among seedling characters, root length exhibited the highest variability, heritability and genetic advance as % of mean followed by fresh root weight. None of the seedling characters showed significant positive correlation with seed yield and protein content. Path analysis indicated high positive direct effect of total seedling dry weight and total seedling length on seed yield and protein content. These two seedling characters may be used as early indicators in selection programmes in soybean.
Key words: Soybean, seedling vigour, variability, correlation, path analysis, yield and protein.