Genetic Analysis of Yield and Yield Contributing - Traits in Linseed (Linum Usitatissimum L.)

Abstract

Thesis Title :"Genetic analysis of yield and yield contributing traits in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)" The present investigation entitled "Genetic analysis of yield and yield contributing traits in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)"was undertaken to collect information on genetic parameters for yield and its components· from a ten parents diallel mating design in linseed at Crop Research Centre (Chirodi), Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.) during rabi 2012-13 and 2013-14. The experimental material was comprised of 10 diverse parents and their 45 F 1s excluding reciprocals of a diallel cross. All genotypes were evaluated in a Complete Randomized Block Design with three replications. The data were recorded on twelve characters days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 1000 seed weight, biological yield per plant, harvest index, oil content and seed yield per plant. The data were recorded subjected to various statistical analyses. Analysis of variance exhibited highly significant differences among the parents and F 1 s for all the characters. Parents vs hybrids revealed highly significant differences for the characters except for days to maturity and number of secondary branches per plant. The F test indicated that the variance due to treatment~ were highly significant for all the traits, justifying the presence of adequate variability with regard to important characters under study. Both additive and non additive components of genetic variation appeared important in the expression of almost all the characters. For exploitation of both the additive and non additive component of variation, material may be handled through pedigree method and modified recurrent selection or biparental mating for obtaining superior segregants and genotypes. Promising parents viz., Shekhar, Kiran, T -397 and Mukta which were showed high general combining ability effects in desirable direction for seed yield and yield components character like plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index and seed yield per plant may be incorporated in crossing programme to have better genotypes for better yield. The cross combinations viz., Sweta x Shek.har, Sweta x Kiran, Sweta x Surbhi, Garima x Hira, Shekhar x Mukta, Shubhra x Mukta, Shubhra x Hira, Kiran x T-397, Surbhi x T-397, T-397 x Neelam, T- 397 x Hira, Neelam x Hira and Mukta x Hira exhibited good specific combining ability effects for seed yield and its contributing traits such as days to maturity, plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index and seed yield per plant. These cross combinations may be exploited for development of hybrid in linseed. It clearly suggests that while selecting best cross combinations this evidence needs to be given due consideration and as above cross combinations may be exploited for better seed yield. Thirteen cross combinations which showed highest value of heterosis for seed yield namely, Sweta x Garima, Sweta x Shekhar, Sweta x Kiran, Sweta x Surbhi, Sweta x Mukta, Garima x Shekhar, Garima x Shubhra, Garima x Kiran, Garima x T-· 397, Garima x Neelam, Garima x Mukta, Garima x Hira and Shubhra x Neelam over better parent may be exploited for developing hybrids with better yield in linseed. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed for plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsules, biological yield per plant, harvest index and seed yield per plant. This indicates the prevalence of additive gene action in their inheritance and may be used as direct selection criteria for improving yield and its contributing traits. By improving the characters viz., biological yield per plant, 1000 seed weight, number of capsules per plant, harvest index and plant height exhibited significant and positive correlation with seed yield, suggested that these characters are useful to the breeders in selecting suitable plant type. Harvest index displayed high order of direct effect on seed yield per plant followed by biological yield per plant, number of capsules per plant and plant height, suggested that may be considered as guidelines for further breeding programme.