Selection of Superior Soybean Genotypes Using some Statistical Multivariate Methods in Moghan Climate Conditions

Soybean is the promising oilseed in the face of protein and oil shortage. In this study 16 advanced soybean genotypes, in terms of seed yield and yield components were evaluated using multivariate statistical methods. This experiment was carried out in the form of randomized complete block design (RCBD) in the research farm of Ardabil Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center (Moghan) for two consecutive years (2017-2018). Combined analysis of variance emphasized the statistically significant differences for seed yield, yield components and growth period among these soybean genotypes. Based on the mean comparison results, G1, G5 and G11 genotypes had the highest grain yield, longest growth period was observed in G1, G16 and G6 genotypes and highest number of seeds per m2 was belonged to G1, G16 and G9 genotypes. The broad sense heritability for plant height, seed yield and number seed in m2 were 0.92.07, 75.31 and 79.25 percentage, respectively. Also, the results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between seed yield and leaf area of per plant, growth period, number of seeds per m2 and number of pods per plant. Genotypes were classified into four distinct groups in cluster analysis and the Ward method. The results of principal component analysis and biplot confirmed by the clustering results, too.G1, G2, G5 and G11 genotypes belong to the first group from cluster analysis with higher seed yield and number of seed per m2, and these genotypes are recommended in future breeding programs.