Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]

An experiment was conducted to estimate the genetic parameters for different traits in soybean. The crop was sown during June, 2015 at Research cum Instructional Farm Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.). The experiment was laid out in RCBD with two replications. The results of genetic variability analysis revealed the existence of moderate genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) for character number of primary branches per plant revealing opportunity of isolating desirable genotypes through intensive selection. The phenotypic coefficient of variance was noted to be moderate for characters seed yield per plant followed by number of pods per plant, number of primary branches per plant. The highest heritability estimate was observed for number of primary branches per plant. High heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance as percentage mean was recorded for number of primary branches per plant. Days to 50% flowering and plant height showed moderate heritability with low genetic advance as percentage of mean. Moderate heritability with moderate genetic advance as percentage of mean were recorded for plant height followed by 100 seed weight, pod bearing length, number of seeds per pod and protein content.