Path coefficient analysis of quantitative traits in soybean (Glycine max L. merrill.)

An investigation was undertaken to find out direct and indirect effect of traits on seed yield by path coefficient analysis in F3 populations of two crosses (JS335 x EC 241780 and JS93-05 x EC241780) of soybean during kharif 2007 at Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications. The observations were recorded on days to flowering, plant height, number of branches per plant, pods per plant, pod length, pod weight, number of seeds per pod, number of seeds per plant, 100 seed weight, biomass, harvest index and seed yield per plant. The maximum positive direct effect on seed yield per plant was exhibited by biomass followed by harvest index in both the crosses, rest of the traits exhibited negative to moderate effect. Thus, direct selection for the traits for biomass and the harvest index are very effective in soybean yield improvement.