Genetic Variability and Character Association of Twenty Soybean (Glycine Max L. Merrill) Genotypes for Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Related Traits in Pawe District Metekel Zone Northwestern Ethiopia

Zinaw Dilnesaw, Seleten Abadi, Fitsum Merkeb, Neguse Dechassa and Habtamu Zelek

Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research Pawe Center, Tel. 251585500274 Fax =251585500272 P.Box 25 Pawe

Corresponding: zinawzi@gmail.com

Accepted 01 October 2014

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the genetic variability of soybean genotypes and genotypic correlation among BNF and related traits. Genotypes were observed to be genotypically diverse with respect to the traits evaluated. Large genotypic and phenotypic variations were also observed for the traits. Number of nodules per plant showed significant positive genotypic correlation with both seed yield per plant ( p< 0.05, 0.456 ) and seed yield per plot ( p< 0.05, 0.674). Effective number of nodules per plant showed positive and significant association with days to flowering (p< 0.05. 0.63 ) and days to maturity (p< 0.05, 0.631), and highly significant association with number of nodules per plant (p< 0.01, 0.993) and at phenotypic level with dry weight of nodules per plant (p< 0.01, 0.505). Among the tested genotypes, TGX-1987-40F and TGX-1987-9F were found significantly superior in BNF and related traits. Therefore, from this study it can be suggested to use at least one of the genotypes as parent in the hybridization work for a future genetic improvement of biological nitrogen fixation.

Keywords:  genetic variability, genotypic correlation and BNF related traits