Combining ability and heterosis for seed yield and yield components in Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) czern and coss] Mandal Kashinath1,*, Subba Vaskar1, Dasgupta T.2, Kundagrami S.1 1Institute of Agricultural Science, University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 019, West Bengal, India 2School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Narendrapur, RKM Campus, Kolkata-700 103, West Bengal, India *Corresponding Author: Kashinath Mandal, Institute of Agricultural Science, University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 019, West Bengal, India, Email: kashinath_pors@yahoo.com
Online published on 6 April, 2023. Abstract Background Indian mustard is an important oilseed crop which occupies premier position in Indian agriculture. Developing high yielding genotypes is a major breeding objective in Indian mustard. Present study was conducted at Experimental Farm of Ranaghat, Nadia, West Bengal, during 2017 to 2019. Methods Line × tester analysis of seven lines and five testers was carried out to identify the high heterotic crosses and their relationship in terms of GCA and SCA in Indian mustard. The parents and F1 hybrids were evaluated in RBD with three replications. Result The analysis of variances revealed significant differences of genotypes for all characters studied, indicating sufficient genetic variability for the characters. The estimates of SCA variances were higher than GCA variance the characters indicating that dominance variance was more than the additive variance. The ratio of variance due to general and specific combining ability was less than unity for all the traits that indicated the non-additive gene action was predominant over additive gene action. Five lines, viz. PM 24, PM 25, PM 30, Pusa Agrani, JD-6 and one tester, Pusa Bold were deemed to be the good general combiner for seed yield and yield attributing traits. On the basis of high heterosis over mid parent as well as better parent and significant SCA effects for seed yield per plant and its component traits, hybrids namely, JD-6 × Pusa Bold, PM 30 × Seeta, PM 25 × Pusa Bold, PM 24 × Kranti and PM 22 × Sarama were found to be very promising for further exploitation in breeding program. Top Keywords Combining ability, GCA, Heterosis, Indian mustard, Line ×, Tester, SCA. Top |