Identification of Pod Shattering Resistance and Associations between Agronomic Characters in Soybean using Genotype by Trait Biplot

Background: Pod shattering has become the major problem in soybean production. The research aims to identify the pod shattering resistance and to assess the agronomic performances of 50 soybean genotypes and the association among agronomic characters. Methods: The research materials were 50 soybean genotypes which consisted of 47 lines derived from routine crossing programs and three check cultivars. The field experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with two replications. The data were observed for yield and its component traits. The oven-dry method was performed in the laboratory to assess the pod shattering resistance. Result: Variation among genotypes was found in the pod shattering resistance and agronomic characters. The genotype by trait biplot graph showed that pod shattering was negatively correlated with the days to maturity and plant height, but positively correlated with the seed size. Soybean genotypes of Grob/G100H-1-588 and G100H/Mhmr-4-993 were resistant to pod shattering and have a high seed weight per plant. These genotypes were potential for further varietal development or could be used as gene sources in the soybean improvement program for pod shattering resistance.