Phenotypic correlations between quantitative characteristics in soybean

Abstract

The association between yield and other characteristics of the plant identifies characters to be used in the indirect selection for high yield. With the objective of identifying parentals to be included in an breeding program, thirty and four soybean lines for twelve characteristics (weight of the seeds per plot, height of the plant, height of the first pod, number of pods per plant, number of pods with one seeds, number of pods with two seeds, number of pods with three seeds, diameter of the stalk, weight of the stem, weight of one hundred seeds, number of days of flourishing and number of days for maturation) were evaluated. This research quantified these relations and identified possible criteria of indirect selection in relation to yield. The correlations between weight of stem with the diameter of the stalk and weight of the stem with the weight of the seeds per plot were significant and positive. Values of interest to make selection easier were obtained in the correlations between number of pods per plant and number of pods with 1, 2, and 3 seeds, which were significant and positive, indicating that it is possible to use in the selection the character with higher genetic gain or the one which allows easier visual selection.