Screening for yield and pod shattering resistance stability in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril) genotypes in Nigeria

Abstract

Yield and pod shattering resistance stabilities for twenty-six (26) soybean genotypes were evaluated across three locations in Nigeria. In each location, the experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. At harvest, pod shattering evaluation was done using the sun-dry method. Data were collected on seed yield and pod shattering percentage and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) and Genotype plus Genotype × Environment Interaction (GGE) bi-plot analyses. Out of the 26 soybean genotypes screened, seven (NCRI SOYAC20, NCRI SOYAC22, NCRI SOYAC7, NCRI SOYAC78, NCRI SOYAC29, NCRI SOYAC69, and NCRI SOYAC28) were identified to produce high and stable yield across environments; five genotypes (NCRI SOYAC78, NCRI SOYAC29, NCRI SOYAC7, NCRI SOYAC17, and NCRI SOYAC69) produced stable pod shattering resistance across environments. Therefore, only four (NCRI SOYAC78, NCRI SOYAC29, NCRI SOYAC69 and NCRI SOYAC7) were stable in both high yield and resistance to pod shattering. These four genotypes are recommended as donor parents in breeding of soybean varieties with both stabilities in high yield and pod shattering resistance across environments. Also, the four genotypes are recommended for large scale soybean production in order to ensure adequate production and food security.