Genetic variability for morphological and seed yield related traits in Indian mustard
(Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss) germplasm
Anil Kumar, Pushpendra Kumar and Rajani tomar
A B S T R A C T
Sixty four germplasm of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss] were evaluated to
estimate variability, heritability and genetic advance in yield and yield components at
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, R. B. S. College, Bichpuri, Agra during rabi, 2014-
2015. The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design with three
replications. Significant genotypic variability among the test genotypes was observed for all
traits studied. Higher values of phenotypic co-efficients of variation and genotypic co-efficients
of variation were observed seed yield per plant, secondary branches per plant, 1000 seed weight
and siliquae per plant indicating the existence of higher magnitude of variability among the
test genotypes for effective selection in respect of the above characters. Higher heritability
estimates values were recorded secondary branches per plant, 1000 seed weight, fiber content,
oil content, days to maturity, seed yield per plant and number of seeds per siliqua, indicating
these traits were less influenced by environmental factors and selection for them is fairly easy.
Higher values of expected genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for secondary
branches, seed yield per plant, 1000 seed weight, number of siliquae per plant, indicating that
selection would be more useful to improve these traits. High estimates of heritability coupled
with high genetic advance were observed for secondary branches, seed yield per plant, 1000
seed weight. High heritability coupled with medium genetic advance for fiber content, days to
maturity. Medium heritability with medium genetic advance was for siliquae per plant. Low
heritability with low genetic advance was for plant height. Under path coefficient analysis, on
partitioning of the correlation coefficients of different characters with seed yield per plant into
direct and indirect effects, it was observed that siliquae on main shoot length, days to 50%
flowering, seeds per siliqua, secondary branches per plant, siliqua length and oil content had
positive direct effect on seed yield.
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