Genetic Characterization of Soybean (Glycine max L.) Genotypes for Yield, Maturity and Rust Resistance

Background: Breeding effort was attempted to identify the potential lines, which will flower and mature earlier with high pod yield potential coupled with rust resistance. Methods: To achieve the objectives, three varieties were selected. DSb 23 is highly resilient to rust with high pod yield potential but takes too long to mature, whereas, MACS 1575 and MACS 1460 mature earlier but these were low yielder and highly susceptible to rust. To identify superior genotypes having desired characters, crossing was done viz., DSb 23 × MACS 1575 (Cross 1) and DSb 23 × MACS 1460 (Cross 2). Result: Selection was practised in each generation and evaluated for earliness, rust resistance and productivity traits. PCV and GCV values were high for pod yield followed by moderate for productive pods/plant, test weight, plant height and high heritability coupled with high genetic advance over mean was enumerated for productive pods/plant, test weight, plant height and pod yield in both the crosses from segregating to advanced generation. Hence, simple selection scheme would be sufficient for these traits to bring genetic improvement in desired direction. The potential lines identified in F5 generation based on early flowering, rust resistance and pod yield attributing traits were appraised in multilocation trial to assess their stability performance before releasing as elite genotype and can also be further used as parents in breeding programme to develop early flowering, high yielding and rust resistant genotypes.