Soybean in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia : I. estimates of genetic and environmental variability

الملخص EN

Sixteen soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Mcrr.] were evaluated at three different sowing dates, viz., November, 19/h 1984, May l5/h and September 8/11 !98S .

under the arid conditions of Western Saudi Arabia.

High significant differences existed among the cultivars for the seven characters evaluated.

A wide range of phenotypic and genotypic varia bility was exhibited by all characters at one or more planting dates.

However.

Among the seven characters evaluated, only seed yield per plant and days to flowering maintained high levels of heritability coupled with fair levels of genetic advance at the three planting dates.

Thus, selection for this trait at each date, as well as for the other characters in November and / or September planting, might prove to be effective.