Genetic Analysis for Resistance to Sclerotinia Stem Rot, Yield and Its Component Traits in Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.

Manjeet Singh,Ajay Pal,Mahavir Bishnoi,Ram Avtar,Nita Lakra,Anu Naruka,Dalip Kumar,Raju Ram Choudhary,Ankit Dhillon,Rajbir Singh Khedwal,Rakesh Punia,Neeraj Kumar,Vivek K Singh,Anoop Singh,Ravindra Kumar Meena,Nisha Kumari

doi:10.3390/plants11050671

Abstract

Understanding the mode of gene action that controls seed yield and Sclerotinia stem rot resistance in Indian mustard is critical for boosting yield potential. In a line × tester mating design, ten susceptible lines and four resistant testers were used to conduct genetic analysis. The significance of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) variances revealed that both additive and non-additive gene actions were involved in the inheritance of Sclerotinia stem rot resistance and yield attributing traits. In addition to 1000-seed weight and number of primary and secondary branches/plant, the genotypes RH 1569 (line) and DRMR 2035 (tester) appeared to be the strongest general combiners for Sclerotinia stem rot resistance. RH 1657 × EC 597317 was the only cross among several that demonstrated a significant desired SCA value for Sclerotinia rot resistance. Regarding SCA effects for yield and component traits, the cross RH 1658 × EC 597328 performed best, with a non-significant but acceptable negative SCA effect for resistance. DRMR 2035, RH 1222-28, RH 1569, RH 1599-41, RH 1657, RH 1658, and EC 597328 are promising genotypes to use as parents in future heterosis breeding and for obtaining populations with high yield potential and greater resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot disease in Indian mustard, based on GCA effects of parents, per se performance, and SCA effects of hybrids. Days to 50% flowering, number of primary branches/plant, main shoot length, and 1000-seed weight all had a high genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV), broad-sense heritability (h2bs), and genetic advance as percent of the mean (GAM) values, as well as significant and desirable correlations and direct effects on seed yield. As a result, these traits have been recognized as the most critical selection criterion for Indian mustard breeding programs.

Highlights

The plant materials for this study consisted of 14 different genotypes of Indian mustard chosen for their different responses to Sclerotinia stem rot, seed yield, and its component traits (Table 1)
* Significant at p ≤ 0.05 and ** Significant at p ≤ 0.01; DF—Days to 50% flowering, DM—Days to maturity, PH—Plant height, NPB—Number of primary branches/plant, NSB—Number of secondary branches/plant, MSL—Main shoot length, NSMS—Number of siliquae on main shoot, SL—Siliqua length, NSS—Number of seeds/siliqua, TSW—1000 seed weight (g), SYP—Seed yield/plant (g), OC—Oil content (%), mean lesion length (MLL)—Mean lesion length, Disease Severity Index (DSI)—Disease severity index
* Significant at p ≤ 0.05 and ** Significant at p ≤ 0.01; NS —Non-significant; DF-Days to 50% flowering; DM—Days to maturity; PH—Plant height; NPB—No of primary branches/plant; NSB—No of secondary branches/plant; MSL—Main shoot length, NSMS—No of siliquae on main shoot; SL—Siliqua length; NSS—No of seeds/siliqua; TSW—1000-seed weight (g); SYP—Seed yield/plant (g); OC—Oil content (%), MLL—Mean lesion length, DSI—Disease severity index

Summary

Introduction

India is the world’s 4th largest grower and producer of oil-producing crops, accounting for ~19% of worldwide acreage and 2.7% of production. Just after cereals, play an important role in the Indian agricultural economy. India is on track to become the world’s third-largest consumer market and an importer of edible oils, meeting over 60%. Domestic demand for edible oils and fats has been proliferating at 6% per year, but domestic output has only increased by 2% per year. The country’s significant scarcity of edible oils has been attributed to several issues, including the country’s ever-growing population, sudden climate change, rising household income, low productivity of oilseed crops, and a complicated disease–pest syndrome. Poor production performance of oilseed crops is the most important reason for India’s demand–supply mismatch in vegetable oils.

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