Association Between Yield and Components in Soybean

Thirty-seven varieties of soybean were studied for correlations of all possible comparisons of yield and yield components. The phenotypic and genotypic correlations agreed very closely in each comparison, with genotypic coefficients being mostly higher than the phenotypic coefficients. Bean yield per plant showed a significant association with number of pods, number of beans, plant height, 50% flowering and maturity. Significant positive correlations were also exhibited by number of pods and number of beans with plant height, 50% flowering and maturity and number of pods with number of beans. Plant height showed a high positive correlation with days to 50% flowering and maturity. Days to 50% flowering was strongly associated with maturity. Bean size, however, had a significant negative relationship with number of pods, number of beans, 50% flowering and plant height. Path coefficient analysis revealed that among all the characters studied, number of pods and maturity contributed the most, both directly and indirectly to yield. Days to 50% flowering had a sizeable negative influence on yield boh directly and indirectly.