Variation in Quantitative Characters of Soybeans After Seed Irradiation¹

Abstract

Synopsis Irradiation of seeds of Adams and Hawkeye soybeans with X‐rays and thermal neutrons significantly increased the genetic variability for yield, plant height, maturity, and seed size. The estimates of genetic variance in the irradiation treatments averaged five times as large as those in the controls, and the predicted genetic gains from selection indicated that an advance could be made within each population for all characters except plant height.