Genetic analysis in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) through diallel mating

Abstract

Genetic analysis in Indian mustard was done by using twelve parents crossed in half diallel mating design
excluding reciprocals to obtain sixty six crosses with the objective to estimate the general and specific
combining ability of parents and crosses respectively and also to isolate superior crosses for their use in
further breeding programme. Sixty six crosses along with twelve parents were raised during rabi 2011- 2012,
and data were recorded for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height at maturity (cm), number of
primary branches plant-1, number of siliqua plant-1, 1000 seed weight(g), yield plant-1(g), and oil content(%).
Considerable variability existed among the genotypes for all characters as observed from the significant
mean squares due to genotypes. The four crosses Vardhan x Kranti, Seeta x Ashirwad, Bio-902 x Ashirwad,
and Kranti x ACN-9 were identified as best cross combinations on the basis of mean values for yield plant-1
and number of siliqua plants-1; seven crosses Vardhan x Laxmi, Vardhan x Kranti, Seeta x Ashirwad, Bio-902
x Ashirwad, Kranti x ACN-9, Laxmi x Geeta, and Vardhan x Laxmi were identified to exhibit significant sca
effect in the desirable direction. The parents Bio-902 and PCR-7 were identified as best general combiners
for yield and yield contributing characters on the basis of high mean performance and significant gca effects.
Among the crosses Vardhan x Kranti, Seeta x Ashirwad, Bio-902 x Ashirwad, and Kranti x ACN-9 were
identified as best F1 cross combinations on the basis of high mean performance, high significant gca effect of
one or both of the parents involved in the crosses and negative sca effects which can be forwarded to the
next generation by following a simple selection method, or biparental mating in selected progeny followed by
selection in segregating generation.