Abstract
Development of new canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars requires efficient tools to monitor trait association in a breeding program. The efficiency of a breeding program depends mainly on the direction of the correlation between yield and its components and the relative importance of each component involved in contributing to seed yield. This research uses sequential path analysis to determine the interrelationships among seed yield and 20 related traits. Forty nine canola genotypes were grown in two environments (non-stressed and water-stressed conditions) to determine the important components of seed yield. Observations were recorded on 20 other canola traits. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed seed yield was positively correlated with all the traits except stem diameter and days to flowering in the non-stressed environment. Seed yield was significantly positively correlated with all measured traits except first pod height, first lateral branch height, number of lateral branches pod-1, number of pods plant-1 and stem diameter in the water-stressed environment. Sequential path analysis identified the 1000-seed weight (TSW) and main stem length as important first order traits that influenced seed yield in the non-stressed environment. Plant height and the TSW were important first order traits that influenced seed yield in the water-stressed environment. All direct effects were significant, as indicated by bootstrap analysis. The results suggest that TSW could be used as a selection criterion in selecting for increased seed yield in canola in both non-stressed and water-stressed conditions.
Highlights
Improvement of seed yield in canola (Brassica napus L.) has been the primary objective of canola breeders for many years
Plant breeders are seldom interested in a single trait and there is the need to examine the relationships among various traits, especially between seed yield and other traits
The main objectives of this research were to analyze the correlation between seed yield and related traits in canola by applying sequential path analysis and identifying traits, of genotypes, which may be useful in breeding higher-yielding genotypes in non-stressed and water-stressed environments
Summary
Improvement of seed yield in canola (Brassica napus L.) has been the primary objective of canola breeders for many years. The response to direct selection for seed yield may be unpredictable, unless there is good control of environmental variation. Plant breeders are seldom interested in a single trait and there is the need to examine the relationships among various traits, especially between seed yield and other traits. As the number of independent variables influencing a particular dependent variable is increased, a certain amount of interdependence is expected. In such situations, correlations may be insufficient to explain the associations in a way that will enable breeders to decide on a direct or indirect selection strategy (Ofori, 1996)
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