Original Article | 2011, Vol.33, No.4, pp. 365-368
Path coefficient analysis for yield of early maturing soybean
Thitiporn Machikowa and Paisan Laosuwan
pp. 365 - 368
Abstract
Fourteen soybean lines/varieties were evaluated at Suranaree University of Technology experimental Farm, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, in 2006-2007 using a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The objectives of the study were to investigate the correlations among some characters of soybean and to verify direct and indirect effects which will be used for the selection for seed yield. Eight characters were evaluated for phenotypic- genotypic correlations and path coefficients. These were days to flowering, branches per plant, nodes per plant, pods per plant, seeds per plant 100 seeds weight, days from flowering to maturity and yield. Means for yield and its components were significantly different among all genotypes for all characters. Significantly positive phenotypic correlation was observed between seed yield and days to flowering. Further-more, genotypic correlation showed that seed yield was positively correlated with all characters except 100 seeds weight. Pods per plant gave the highest positive direct effect on seed yield, followed by branches per plant. In addition, the indirect effects of most characters were high through pods per plant. The results obtained from genotypic correlations and path analyses showed that the efficiency in the selection for seed yield in early maturing soybean should increase through the selection of pods per plant.
