Genetic variability, heritability and character association for yield and component characters in soybean (G. max (L.) Merrill)

Genetic parameter and correlation of eight quantitative traits including grain yield were studied in thirty one soybean genotypes. Among all the traits, seed yield per plant exhibited highest estimate of PCV (47.74) and GCV (41.83) followed by dry matter weight per plant (PCV=33.99, GCV=31.15) and number of pods per plant (PCV=33.48, GCV=30.16). Heritability was highest for three characters i.e., days to 50 per cent flowering, number of primary branches per plant and 100 seed weight (91%). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for number of pods per plant and dry matter weight per plant. Grain yield per plant exhibited highly significant and positive genetic correlation with dry matter weight per plant (rg=0.491), number of primary branches per plant (rg=0.403), number of pods per plant (0.631) and harvest index (0.487).