Studies on Combining Ability for Yield and Its Components in Indian Mustard [brassicajuncea (L.) Czern & Coss)

Abstract

The present investigation entitled, Studies on combining ability for yield and its components in Indian mustard [Brassicajuncea (L.) Czern & Coss) was carried out at Crop ·Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.). The experiment consisted often lines, four testers and 40 F1s was laid out in a randomized block design in three replications during Rabi 2012-13. The observations were recorded on fifteen traits namely, days to 50% flowering, plant height (em), number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, main shoot length (em), siliquae on main shoot per plant, number of siliquae per plant, length of siliqua (em), number of seeds per siliqua, days to maturity, seed yield per plant (g), biological yield per plant (g), 1 000-seeds weight (g), harvest index (%) and oil content (%). Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all the fifteen characters under study revealing high level of genetic variability among treatments for all the traits. Over dominance was observed for plant height, main shoot length, biological yield per plant, days to maturity, siliquae on main shoot per plant, days to 50% flowering, oil content, number of secondary branches per plant, number of seeds per siliquae, primary branches per plant and length of siliquae. It was partial dominance for number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of seeds per siliqua, Length of siliqua and 1000- seeds weight. Analysis of variance for combining ability showed significant values both for gca and sea variances for most of the traits. Lines Chamatkar, Krishna, Pusa Jaganath and Pusa Beran were found good general combiner for seed yield and yield contributing characters. Whereas, among the testers Vaibhav and Pusa Bold were found good general combiner for most of the traits. The cross combinations namely; Krishna x Pusa Bold, EC-285011 x Kranti and EC-285011 x Pusa Bold were found superior for seed yield and most of the yield contributing characters. Cross combinations Krishna x Pusa Bold showed heterotic effects. more than fifteen per cent in desirable direction over superior and mid parents. Maximum heterobeltiosis for oil content was exhibited by cross EC-36540041 x Ashirwad of 6.94 percent followed by EC-87-88-2 x Pusa Bold of 5.30 percent. For the early maturity cross EC-39930 I x Ashirwad was identified superior over the other. This cross also exhibited heterosis over mid parent. Cross combination EC-41-1 x Pusa Bold was found superior for plant height (dwarfuess). Moderate heritability along with moderate genetic advance was found for most the major characters including seed yield both additive and non-additive gene action were of prime importance.