Multiple selection indices based identification of soybean (Glycine max L.) in early segregating generations

Selection towards an ideal plant progeny is a principal component in plant breeding programs. In this current study, a field experiment was conducted to select progenies that can produce superior advanced breeding lines of soybean (Glycine max L.). A total of 403 progenies of F_2:3 and F_2:4 generations derived from three different crosses, namely, JS 20–98 × JS 95–60, JS 20–34 × JS 95–60 and EC 457254 × JS 95–60 were evaluated along with their parents for the agronomic performance of soybean. Likelihood ratio test revealed significant genotypic effect for the traits viz., plant height, pods per plant and yield per plant in progenies of both generations. Ideotype selection based on MGIDI, FAI-BLUP and SH Index identified 15 progenies viz., VN20, VN35, VN39, VN45, VN57, VN75, VN90, VN92, VN93, VN95, VN96, VN112, VN170, VN176 and VN248 in F_2:3 generation and twenty progenies viz., VN18, VN40, VN42, VN85, VN91, VN96, VN103, VN109, VN111, VN113, VN123, VN124, VN126, VN140, VN141, VN152, VN170, VN179, VN189 and VN196 in F_2:4 generation. Two progenies, VN96 and VN 170 were found promising across both generations; such progenies are of immense potential in developing high-yielding varieties with a good agronomic base.