Heterosis and Combining Ability Studies for Seed Yield, its Attributes and Oil Content in Indian Mustard [Brassica Juncea (L) Czern & Coss]

Combining ability analysis on a 9 x 9 diallel F₁ and F₂ generations in Indian mustard revealed that general combining ability effects of the parents had a positive association with their per se performance. The parents Pusa Bold, T-59, RH-30 and RL-1359 were good general combiners for both seed yield and oil content. Regarding component characters of yield, T-59 for days to first flower, Pant Rai-16 for main raceme length, RL-1359 for plant height, primary branches, Siliquae on main raceme length, RL-1359 for plant height, primary branches, Siliquae on main raceme and oil content and Pusa Bold for secondary branches, siliqua length and test weight were found to be the best general combiners. In most of the crosses, the specific combining ability estimates for most of the traits were higher in the F₁ than in the F₂. The hybrids RH-30 x RW-351, T-59xRL-1359 and RH-30xRL-1359 for seed yield/plant and T-59xRH-30, RH-30xRL-1359 and RL-1359xRK-1418 for oil content/plant were identified as potential cross combinations on the basis of better parent heterosis and specific combining ability. It was evident from the two analyses that additive and non-additive gene effects are important for the inheritance of different characters studied. However, the relative magnitude of non-additive was higher than additive component for all the characters in both the populations except days to flower in F₁.