Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability Characterization of Soybean Glycine max [L.] Merrill Genotypes
Yamini Gautam
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474002, India.
M.K. Tripathi *
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474002, India and Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agriculture University, Morena, Madhya Pradesh, 476001, India.
Riya Mishra
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474002, India.
Jagendra Singh
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474002, India and Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agriculture University, Morena, Madhya Pradesh, 476001, India.
D. K. Payasi
RAK College of Agriculture, Sehore, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Sanjeev Sharma
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474002, India.
Sandeep Singh Tomar
Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agriculture University, Morena, Madhya Pradesh, 476001, India.
Anurag Sharma
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474002, India.
Lalita Bishnoi
Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Dantiwada, Gujarat, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Soybean is a significantly important leguminous crop known for its high protein (~40%) and oil (~20%) content, making it essential in human nutrition and animal feed. The current research was conducted during the Kharif, 2024 at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Morena, RVSKVV, Gwalior to assess qualitative characters among 60 soybean genotypes acquired from different institutions in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two replications. Eleven qualitative traits including hypocotyl and flower colour, leaf shape and shade, pod pubescence, growth habit, seed shape, seed coat and hilum colour and luster were recorded visually. Substantial phenotypic variation was observed. Anthocyanin pigmentation in the hypocotyl was present in 37 genotypes (61.67%); flower colour was violet in 37 (61.67%) and white in 23 genotypes (38.33%). Seed coat luster also varied where 38 genotypes (63.33%) were shiny while 22 (36.67%) were dull. Variation was also seen in leaf shape, pod surface, growth habit and hilum colour. A dendrogram was also constructed based on the qualitative traits which classified the genotypes into two primary clusters: a major contained 37 genotypes and a minor comprehend 23 genotypes. This morphological characterization provides valuable baseline information for selecting superior genotype (s) for further utilization in breeding programmes. The observed diversity can be effectively utilized for genetic improvement and conservation.
Keywords: Genetic diversity, germplasm evaluation, morphological characterization, phenotypic variation, soybean (Glycine max), qualitative traits