Correlation and path coefficient analysis for yield and yield components in early generation lines of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

One hundred ten early generation (F3) lines of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss) derived from 5 crosses were studied at Bharatpur (Rajasthan), India during rabi season 2010–11 to investigate the associations among yield components and their direct and indirect influence on seed yield in augmented block design along with 4 checks. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among progenies for all the 11 characters studied except for number of seeds siliqua⁻¹. Higher magnitude of heritability coupled with higher genetic advance expressed as percentage of mean observed for number of secondary branches plant⁻¹ and seed yield plant⁻¹. Seed yield plant⁻¹ exhibited positive and significant association with number of secondary branches plant⁻¹, number of siliquae on main shoot and total siliquae plant⁻¹ both at genotypic and phenotypic level. Further, path coefficient analysis also revealed that number of secondary branches plant⁻¹, number of siliquae on main shoot and total siliquae plant⁻¹ had positive and direct effect on seed yield plant⁻¹, indicating that indirect selection for these traits in early generations would be effective in improving seed yield. The result suggested that high yielding progenies could be selected in further generations, if selection is practiced for more number of secondary branches plant⁻¹, higher number of siliqua on main shoot and total siliquae plant⁻¹.