Path analysis, Genetic variability and Correlation studies for Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merill) for grain yield and Secondary traits at Asosa, Western Ethiopia

The aim of the study is assessing the nature and magnitude and revealing the genetic correlation among the traits and partition the genetic correlations into direct and indirect effects so that to estimate direct and indirect effects of various character on grain yield. Twenty-four soybean accessions, sown at Asosa agricultural research centre, Asosa (Ethiopia) were evaluated by using randomized completely block design with three replicates for the estimation of genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation, path analysis and genetic Divergence in twenty- four soybean genotypes obtained from introduction and some two local checks. Observation on 18 agronomic and morphological were observed. Analysis of variance a significant (P ≤ 0.05) to highly significant difference (P ≤ 0.01) among the genotypes among for all the characters, but for days to maturity, number of seed per pod, inter-node length and total nodules weights. The phenotypic coefficient of variance was found superior than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all traits studied, showing that the variation is not only genetic but also influenced by growing environments in the expression of the traits. The genotypic coefficient of variation was high for days to maturity, plant height, number of seed per plant, grain yield per plant and fresh biomass weight. High heritability coupled with high to moderate genetic advance was estimated for seed yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with plant height, pods per plant, and days to 50 per cent flowering and days to maturity. Pod per plant recorded highest positive direct effect on seed yield per plant followed plant height. The information that generated from the study will be useful for grain yield and yield contributing traits, especially from the soil and root architecture and nutrient absorptions