Genetic Variability and Correlation Analysis in Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea(L.) Czern & Coss.] under Drought Stress

Abstract

Genetic variation study in Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.] revealed low phenotypic and genotypic variability for days to maturity and oil content but substantial for secondary branches/plant, biological yield/plant, seed yield/plant, plant height, primary branches/plant and siliquae on main shoot. The seed weight had high heritability with high genetic advance implying that additive gene effects were mainly responsible for the expression of the character. Seed yield/plant was positively and significantly correlated at both phenotypic and genotypic levels with days to maturity, plant height, primary branches/plant, secondary branches/plant, siliquae on main shoot and biological yield/plant. Selection for higher 1000-seed weight would bring forth positive correlated response in oil content owing to its positive genetic correlation with oil content. Indirect selection for high oil content through seed size might reduce siliquae on main shoot due to its negative genetic correlation of moderate magnitude with oil content. Positive association of days to maturity and plant height with seed yield is undesirable; therefore, efforts should be made to break this linkage by resorting to bi-parental mating to breed for varieties having earliness, short plant stature and high oil content in Brassica juncea.