Evaluation of the Relationships among the Quantitative Traits of New Soybean Varieties and Lines

In order to evaluate the quantitative traits of soybean (Glycine max L. Merill), 24 genotypes were studied at Baiekola Agricultural Research Station in 2008. The traits studied included phonological and morphological traits, yield components, seed yield, and seed oil and protein content. Results of analysis of variance showed that mean squares of the treatments were significant, indicating significant genetic variation among the genotypes regarding the above–mentioned traits. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of days to flowering and the number of days to maturity, indicating that selection based on a high number of days to flowering leads to indirect selection of late maturing varieties. Among the main yield components, there was a significant positive correlation between the 1000-seed weight and seed yield; therefore, any change in the 1000-seed weight will have significant effects on seed yield. Since the yield components and the qualitative traits do not have any significant correlation with seed yield, cluster analysis cannot be used to put these traits in one group together with high seed yield. The general conclusion is that the genotypes Ronak 2, L2002, and LB4 with seed yields of 2610, 2606, and 2597 kg/h, respectively, are the superior genotypes, and that they can be considered as one statistical group.