Exploring Genetic Parameters for Yield Improvement in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea Czern. & Coss.)

Abstract

The current investigation was carried out with goals to calculate variances among families and within family, to determine genetic parameters and to find better mutants for further utilization at experimental farm of Agricultural Botany Section, College of Agriculture Nagpur during rabi 2017 in M3 generation. In rabi 2016, 71 mutants were found together with one check and in rabi 2017, these 71 mutants along with one checks (PM-21) were tested in M3 generation in Randomized Block Design with two replications. Data were recorded on days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of primary branches plant-1, number of siliqua plant-1, length of silique (cm), number of seed siliqua-1, seed yield plant-1 (g) and 1000 seed weight (g). The genetic parameter analysis revealed the importance of number of siliqua plant-1, 1000 seed weight and seed yield plant-1 for selection of better individual mutant from the progenies, based on genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance. Thus, 161 mutants were chosen from PM-21 variety treated with different concentrations of sodium azid (T1= 0.03% SA, T2 = 0.06% SA and T3= 0.09% SA). All these mutants will be sent to M4 generation in progeny rows for one or more generation so that homozygosity will be reached and the superior genotypes may be selected for forwarding to yield trials in subsequent generation.