Ninety genotypes of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill.) of diverse orgin were evaluated in randomized block design with
two replications for variability, heritability and genetic advance during Kharif 2014. Observations on seventeen quantitative
characters were recorded. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the
characters except number of primary roots.The highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was recorded for yield per
plant, followed by number of branches per plant. The moderate value of GCV was recorded for 100 seed weight, plant height,
seeds per pod and pod length while low value of GCV was recorded for 50% flowering, days to maturity, pod length, oil and
protein percentage. High heritability estimates were observed for plant height, 100 seed weight while the highest value of
genetic advance as percent of mean was found for yield per plant followed by number of branches per plant. Moderate value of
genetic advance was found for oil percentage followed by days to maturity, pod length and low value was found for protein
percentage.
Key Words: Genetic variability, Genetic advance, Heritability, Soybean