Genetic Variability And Character Association For Morphological And Seed Yield Related Traits In Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss) Germplasm Under Heat Stress Conditions

Abstract

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 withthree replications. Significant genotypic variability among the test genotypes was observed for all traits studied. Higher values of phenotypicco- 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 inrespect 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 valuesof 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 toimprove 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.