Combining ability analysis for seed yield and its attributes in Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss]

COMBINING ABILITY ANALYSIS FOR SEED YIELD AND ITS ATTRIBUTES IN INDIAN MUSTARD

Abstract

The hybrids were developed by adopting diallel mating design excluding reciprocals involving ten diverse Indian mustard genotypes during rabi 2007-08. The resultant 45 hybrids along with their parents were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications under four environments viz., timely sown at Sardarkrushinagar (E1) and Ladol (E2), and late sown at Sardarkrushinagar (E3) and Ladol (E4), during rabi 2008-09. Combining ability analysis on pooled basis, revealed importance of both additive and non-additive genetic variances for the control of various traits. However, the ratio σ2 gca/σ2 sca indicated preponderance of non-additive gene action for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, seed yield/plant and oil content, while additive gene action was preponderant for rest of the traits. The parents RK 9501, GM 1 and GM 2 were good general combiners, whereas, the crosses 'RK 9501 x GM 2', 'GM 1 x GM 3' and 'GM 3 x SKM 139' were found to be the best specific combinations for seed yield/plant and some of the important yield contributing traits. However, on the basis of per se performance, exploitable heterosis and significant sca effects for seed yield/plant and some of its important components, the above hybrids were considered to be the most promising for exploitation of heterosis.