Phenotypic Diversity and Trait Analysis of Soybean Recombinant Inbred Lines

Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merrill), generally recognized as the “Golden bean,” is a vivacious oilseed and food legume crop appreciated for its high-quality protein, oil content and health- encouraging compounds. To enable soybean enhancement, in the current investigation, genetic diversity was evaluated among 118 soybean genotypes, including 115 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) along with three cultivars viz., JS 97-52, NRC-37, JS-335 in Kharif, 2022 at All India Coordinated Research project (AICRP) Soybean Seed Breeding Farm, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV), Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (M. P.), India. The experiment was laid out in an Augmented Block Design (ABD) and phenotypic characterization was performed based on 16 different morphological characters as per Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing guidelines. Substantial variability was experimented across traits for instance growth habit, leaf size, seed shape, seed coat luster and hilum colour. Traits like hypocotyl colour, flower colour and pod pubescence displayed low diversity, signifying strong selection pressure, whereas seed-related traits exposed comparatively higher diversity, offering aptitude for genetic enhancement. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index inveterate presence of moderate to high variability in crucial agronomic and seed characteristics, emphasizing their significance in breeding programmes. The investigation highpoints the incidence of extensive morphological diversity among the evaluated RILs, providing valuable evidence for the selection of superior genotype (s), lengthening the genetic base and developing high-yielding, stress-resilient soybean cultivar (s). Insights gained from this study will guide strategic breeding intervention to enhance soybean productivity and environmental adaptability.