Estimates of combining ability, yield and yield components in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract

Combining ability analysis of 10×10 diallel set of crosses in Indian mustard for ten quantative traits revealed preponderance of non-additive gene effects for plant height, number of primary branches per plant and seed yield per plant, whereas additive gene effect was found to be predominant for the inheritance of rest of the character. The parent Varuna, RH-3904 and RH-819 were the good general combiners for seed yield and oil content. Varuna and RH-819 also exhibited desirable general combining ability effect for earliness and dwarfness. Among the cross combination, cross Varuna×RH-819 exhibited superior specific combining ability effect for days to 50% flowering, number of secondary branches per plant and other yield attributing traits. Most of the cross involving high-low general combining parent, exhibited high sca effect for various traits. Seed yield was highly, significantly and positively correlated with days to 50 % flowering, plant height, number of primary branches per plant, length of siliqua, and test weight. Hence, selection for the higher values of these traits will be desirable to increase seed yield.