Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Analysis Studies in Soybean

The present investigation was carried out to know genetic variability, correlation and path analysis among nine characters in soybean. The experiment consisted 30 genotypes and was evaluated in three replications during kharif season 2011. The results revealed significant differences among the genotypes indicated sufficient amount of variability present in the material. The genotypic and phenotypic variances were high for pods per plant, plant height, days to maturity and seed yield per plant. The genotypic coefficient of variation was observed high for number of pods per plant followed by plant height, number of branches per plant and seed yield per plant. In general, genotypic correlations were higher than the phenotypic correlations. Seed yield per plant showed significant and positive correlations with plant height, number of pods per plant, days to 50 per cent flowering and days to maturity. Path coefficient analysis revealed the highest positive direct effect of days to first flowering on seed yield followed by 100 seed weight, plant height and number of branches per plant.