Correlation and path coefficient analysis for yield and yield contributing traits in Soybean (Glycine max (L.) MERRILL)

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is an important oil seed crop belonging to the family leguminoseae and is commercially grown as food crop. Its seeds are used commercially as human food and animal feed as well as extraction of oil. Economic yield is a complex character consisting of so many contributing components. It is also considered as the ultimate criterion, which a plant breeder has always to keep in view, while evolving a new variety with high yield potential. A clear understanding of the association of plant traits and yield helps a good deal in carrying out crop improvement program succes sfully. Knowledge of the interrelationships of quantitative characters with seed yield and among themselves is essential for deciding appropriate selection criteria for improvement of a complex trait like seed yield. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to collect the scientific information on correlation and path coefficient analysis in soybean