Evaluation of germination and growth pattern in Glycine max accessions from Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India

People in the hilly region are looking at soybean, a highly nutritious crop, as a solution to the problem of malnutrition. The inhabitants of hilly areas of Uttarakhand state in the Indian Himalayan region cultivate the soybean variety 'Bhat'. The crop has several health benefits due to its high protein and fiber content. Lack of focused studies on ‘Bhat’ cultivars has led to gradual declination in production of this important crop. The goal of the present study was to analyze the growth and development patterns in the soybean accessions collected from the different villages of the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. Significant variations were recorded in the germination rate and plantlet development of different accessions of 'Bhat' cultivars on varying growth mediums. Sowing time and adding manure proved to be crucial for optimal germination. The study provides preliminary information that holds potential for identifying the best cultivars suitable for cultivation and varietal improvement programs of this indigenous crop variety of Uttarakhand