Assessment of Relation of Morphological Traits with Seed Yield and Their Diversity in M4 Generation of Soybean Mutant Lines [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Through Factor Analysis

The relationship between some important morphological traits with seed yield in 18 soybean genotypes inclusive three cultivars (JK، May and Cap) and 15 M4 mutant lines were investigated using randomized complete block design with four replications. Results of analysis of variance indicated that there were significant differences between genotypes in all traits except the number of branches per plant. Analysis of phenotypic correlation showed that the seed yield has a positive correlation with total number of pods (0. 888) and harvest index (0. 709). Four factors were determined by factor analysis، which justified 88. 14 % of total variation. The first factor justified 38. 89 % of total variation that defined as yield factor. Stepwise regression analysis for seed yield showed 90 % of variation of yield، as a dependent variable justified with number of total pods per plant، harvest index and plant height. These correlation coefficients of studied traits were 0. 888، 0. 709 and -0. 508، respectively. Therefore، these traits can be notability used in soybean breeding programs. In general، result of present study suggested that gamma irradiation negatively affected on plant height. The May-150 mutant line، with the lowest plant height is able to be accounted for the highest seed yield.