Genetic diversity study in soybean [Glycine max L. Merrill] based on agro-morphological characters

Using Mahalanobis D²statistics, the level of genetic diversity among soybean genotypes based on 12 agro-morphological traits was investigated in this study. A total of 100 soybean genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Cluster I had the maximum number of genotypes (53 genotypes), followed by cluster II (37 genotypes), cluster III (6 genotypes), clusters IV and V (1 genotype each), cluster VI (2 genotypes). Clusters I and VI had the greatest inter-cluster distance (117618.10). Intra-cluster distance ranged between 0.00 and 9830.83. The biggest contribution to total divergence came from character plot yield (25.0%). Cluster VI had the highest cluster mean values for yield and its component traits. Based on inter-cluster distance, cluster mean values, and mean per se performance, it is recommended to utilize genotypes of cluster I and cluster VI, I and III, III and IV, II and VI, respectively, for future hybridization programs to develop high yielding genotypes.