VARIABILITY AND COHERITABILITY ESTIMATES FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ATTRIBUTES IN SOYBEAN

Abstract

Twenty six divergent genotypes of soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merrill.) were used to estimate the variability and coheritability for physiological and economic attributes. The variability in vegetative and reproductive phases and 1oo-seed weight appeared mainly due to genotypic differences. High heritability estimates were recorded for vegetative and reproductive phases, crop growth rate, and 1OO-seed weight. Both additive and nonadditive gene effects were important in the inheritance of net assimilation rate, crop growth rate, 100-seed weight, biological yield/plant, and seed yield/plant, whereas nonadditive gene effect was found important for remaining traits. Bioloigical yield and pods/plant, harvest index and duration of reproductive phase exhibited substantial coheritability estimates with seed yield.