A genetic study of pod shattering resistance in F2 soybean (Glycine max) germplasm

Abstract

Soybean is an important food legume. Promiscuous (tropical) soybean types which are compatible with indigenous soil rhizobia are desirable in crop production systems that are limited by inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers. However, the tropical soybean types are generally susceptible to pod shattering thus limiting their adoption by growers. This study was designed to determine the mode of inheritance for pod shattering using F2 soybean plant populations segregating for pod shattering. A cross involving a tropical genotype (TGx-14) and non-tropical genotype (LS-82) as parental lines was performed in order to generate F2 progenies that were evaluated subsequently for pod shattering. The trait segregated in the ratio 13 susceptible: 3 resistant suggesting that two major genes along with inhibitory epistasis were involved in controlling the trait. The information regarding the genetics of the trait would be useful for genetic improvement programs aimed at introgressing resistance into susceptible tropical germplasm.

Keywords:

• hybridization
• inheritance
• pod shattering
• soybean