Inheritance of pod shattering in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]

Abstract

Pod shattering refers to the opening of mature pods along with dorsal or ventral sutures and dispersal of seed as the crop reaches maturity, as well as during harvesting. The extent of yield loss due to pod shattering in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] may range from negligible to 90 percent depending upon the environmental conditions during harvesting and genotype. With Indian agriculture operations depending on human labour, the untimely and delayed harvesting results in the increased pod shattering. Pod shattering is aggravated if there is rain followed by dry weather, low humidity, high temperature, rapid temperature changes, wetting and drying etc. Among the reasons mentioned above, the genotype of the variety plays an important role on the overall expression of pod shattering. Segregation of pod shattering was highly complex in F2 generation and showed quantitative response in the cross of susceptible and resistant varieties [1-4]. Moreover, 12 putative RFLP markers were associated with pod shattering in F4 population [5]. Success of conventional breeding program aimed at pod shattering resistance depends upon the desirable segregates, hence the present study was undertaken.