Combining Ability and Heterosis Analysis for Seed Yield Related Traits in Brassica Napus

Abstract

Brassica napus L. is important oilseed crop, having higher oil contents (40%) with low contents of glucosinolate and erucic acid, make it perfect for edible purpose. Ten Brassica napus L. genotypes were crossed in line × tester mating design. Seven high yielding female lines were crossed with 3 low yielding testers. The 21 F1’s along with parents were evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design with three repetitions in the field of Department of Plant Breeding and genetics, UAF. Out of thirteen attributes, eleven attributes (plant height, days taken to flower initiation, days taken to 50% flower initiation, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of siliques per plant, siliqua length, seed yield per plant, 100-seed weight, seed yield per plot and oil content) showed significant results for all genotypes under study while two attributes (seed per siliqua and protein content) were non-significant. The parent ZN-M-9 was chosen as excellent overall combiner for plant height, days taken to flower initiation, days to 50% flowering and number of siliques plant-1 and ZM-M-6 and Rainbow identified as the excellent general combiner for the seed yield plant-1 and seed yield per plot, respectively. The cross ZN-M-9 × ZMR-3 & DGL × ZN-R-1 identified as good specific combiners for seed yield plant-1 and seed yield plot-1, respectively. The cross ZM-M-6 × ZMR-3 was selected as best for days taken to first flower beginning, days taken to 50% flowering, and oil content on the basis of better parent heterosis. The genetic information obtained in this research will be helpful for the breeder during their future breeding program