Path analysis in soybean genotypes as function of growth habit

Aiming to identify quantitative descriptors directly or indirectly related to grain yield and to verify whether this relationship depends of the growth habit of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill), an experiment was conducted at Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul -Aquidauana Unit, in a soil classified as Ultisol sandy loam texture. The experimental design was randomized block with four replications. The treatments consisted of six soybean genotypes, being three determinate growth habit and three indeterminate. The following descriptors were evaluated: plant height (PH), first pod insertion height (PIH), number of ramifications per plant (NR), number of pods (NP), mass of hundred grains (MHG) and grains yield (YIE). The data of each parameter of genotypes with determinate and indeterminate growth habit for each genetic class were compared by t-test at 5% probability. The results obtained showed that genotypes with indeterminate growth habit are more productive compared to those who have determinate growth habit. It is recommended simultaneous selection of the descriptors NP and NR for genotypes with determinate growth habit and PH, NP and NR for genotypes with indeterminate growth