Heterosis and combining ability for different traits in local germplasm and varietal crosses in Brassica juncea L

Abstract

Ten parents comprising six selected local germplasm lines (PWR 15-8, PRHC 17-1, FS-14-24, PWR 15-8-1, PRHC 12-14, PRHC 13-14) and four released varieties (RGN-73, Maya, Kranti, PM 25) were crossed in diallel fashion (excluding reciprocals). Ten parents and thier 45 F1’s were evaluated in randomized block design during rabi 2014-15 for 15 traits including seed yield per plant (g) and oil content (%) alongwith two quality traits viz. protein content (%), glucosinolate content (µmole/g). Results indicated that predominance of additive gene action for expression for all traits barring oil and glucosinolate content. Combining ability studies revealed that PRHC 17-1, RGN73, Maya, Kranti, PRHC 13-14 were good combiners for seed yield per plant but none hadgood GCA for oil content. Out of 45 crosses, 13 crosses viz. PWR 15-8×PRHC 12-14, PWR 15-8×Kranti, PRHC 17-1×FS-14-24, PRHC 17-1×PWR 15-8-1, PRHC 17-1×RGN73, PRHC 17-1×PRHC 13-14, FS-14-24×Maya, PWR 15-8-1×RGN73, PWR 15-8-1×PM 25, RGN73×Maya, RGN73×Kranti, Maya×PRHC 12-14, PRHC 12-14×PRHC 13-14 were good specific combinations for high yield/plant. In all 20 crosses over better parent (BP) and 12 over standard variety (SV) manifested significant desirable heterosis. Of these nine crosses displayed heterosis over both BP as well as SV. The magnitude of desired heterosis over BP was quite high in different crosses (8.37 to 131.55%).