Morphological and SSR Marker based Selection for an Elite YMV Resistant Breeding Line from a Segregating Population of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]

Background: JS335 is a leading variety of soybean in central India with high stability, but YMV susceptible. These leads to the incorporation of the YMV resistance in the elite genotypes of soybean variety JS335. Methods: 45 breeding lines obtained from a cross between two parents SL525 (YMV resistant) and JS335 (YMV susceptible) along with two parents and a check SL958 were analysed for diversity using Mahalanobis D2 and 19 polymorphic SSR markers. These lines were evaluated for yield and component traits and YMV, during 2020 at two locations viz. Ludhiana and Gurdaspur, India. Result: Diversity analysis based on Mahalanobis D2 statistics divided genotypes into five clusters. The maximum (288464.1) and minimum (15103.7) inter-cluster distance were observed between clusters 4 and 5 and clusters 2 and 5, respectively. SSR marker analysis grouped a total of 48 genotypes into three major clusters. The mean for agronomic traits of genotypes was categorised and SLJS 41-2 was found YMV resistant and exhibited a high yield (32.1 g/plant). The contribution of JS 335 towards SLJS 41-2 was found to be 62.5%. This line could further be tested at multilocation to evaluate adaptability and subjected to different yield trials for varietal release or used as a potential YMV donor.