Relationship between seed yield and yield components in bilocular and tetralocular yellow sarson (Brassica rapa)

Abstract

The inheritance of siliqua locule number was investigated utilizing two parental lines each of bilocular and tetralocular siliqua group. Bilocular siliqua was dominant over the tetralocular siliqua in both crosses and the trait is controlled by a single major gene. Seventeen advanced breeding lines of each tetralocular and bilocular group were grown during 2004–05 and 2006–07 in group balanced block design with three replications to study the association between seed yield and its component traits. In tetralocular group seeds/siliqua, siliquae on branches, siliquae on main raceme and number of branches showed significant and positive correlation with seed yield/plant and also high positive direct effect on seed yield/plant. Regression analysis showed that 91% of total variation in seed yield could be explained by the variation in siliquae on branches, seeds/siliqua and length of siliqua. In bilocular group plant height, siliquae on main raceme, seeds/siliqua and siliquae on branches exerted high direct effects on seed yield/plant which also showed significant and positive correlation with seed yield/plant. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 92% of total variation in seed yield/plant could be explained by number of branches and siliquae on branches. Selection criteria for yield improvement in the light of yield formation process have been discussed for the groups of yellow sarson.