Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012
*Present address: Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, College of Agriculture, Rajendranairar, Hyderabad-500 030.
The degree of incompatibility was assessed at four different stages using 150 F1 hybrids among the three varieties-brown sarson (BS), yellow sarson (YS) and toria (TR)—of the species Brassica campestris L., and 123 inter-varietal biparental progenies. By and large, all possible matings among BS, YS and TR were cross-compatible. Though the degree of siliqua and seed set was impaired on selfing inter-varietal F1, it was found not only to be repaired but to be improved by biparental matings. A compensatory mechanism between the degree of siliqua set and the average number of seeds per siliqua observed in BIP progenies can be used with advantage to maintain stable and high yield levels. The remarkable improvement shown by BIP mating in inter-varietal crosses for major yield components and yield would suggest a new avenue for breeders to uplift the stagnant yield levels. The results of the study tend to support the view that long and intense human selection for maturity, height and branching habit had brought about the observed differences in BS, YS and TR.
