Legume Research - An International Journal

Two interspecific crosses viz. (PK-472 × Glycine soja) × PK-472 and (Bragg × Glycene soja) × Bragg werestudied for effectiveness of early generation selection in respect to yield and its contributing traits. The mean differences of the selected F₃ progenies for yield contributing traits were significant, indicating that sufficient genetic variability was available in both crosses for selection. Based on the superiority in terms of mean of selected progenies, number of progenies superior and/or/significantly superior to better parent and their respective yield and genetic advance over the bulk and better parent and genetic advance in F₄ generation in both the crosses, selection for dry matter, pods/plant, plant height, harvest index and yield per se is a effective criteria for yield improvement in early generation in interspecific cross of soybean. Four high yielding selected progenies of (PK-472 × G. soja) × PK-472 and nineteen progenies of (Bragg × G. soja) × Bragg were free from yellow mosaic, bacterial pustule, rizoctonia aerial blight, fungal complex and Bihar hairy caterpillar and may be used in breeding programme for resistance as well as for varietal improvement programme.