Genetic diversity and genetic gain are valuable parameters in plant breeding for assembling new cultivars. The presented study sought to identify the genetic diversity of the black soybean (Glycine soja L. Merrill) populations from crossbreeding and identify the broad sense heritability and genetic gain in yield-related traits. The set experiments proceeded in a randomized complete block design with three replications at two different environments/locations—Indramayu and Majalengka, Indonesia. The genetic material comprises 19 black soybean genotypes. The results showed that the genetic diversity in black soybean genotypes for grain yield and its attributes were broad, based on the principal component analysis, with a cumulative value of 80.55%. The environment greatly influenced heritability and genetic gains. High heritability and genetic gain were notable for seed length in the Majalengka location. In the Indramayu location, the demonstration of high heritability and genetic gains appeared for the number of fertile nodes and seed length. This information can serve as a basis for plant breeders to develop black soybean high-yielding cultivars in the future.

Keywords: Black soybean (Glycine soja L. Merrill), heritability, genetic gain, principal component analysis, yield related traits

Key findings: Information on genetic diversity, heritability, and genetic gain in yield-related traits is necessary to develop cultivars in crop plants. In black soybean populations, the genetic diversity for planting at two locations based on the principal component analysis was 80.55%. Heritability and genetic gain values among the populations for traits in two locations showed moderate to high values. This information can be beneficial in further selection to develop black soybean high-yielding cultivars.