Genetic Diversity Assessment and Characterization of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) Varieties using Agro-morphological Traits

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) is an important source of edible oil in Asian countries. Indian mustard suffers from the lack of distinguishable morphological markers. Effectiveness of a trait in establishing distinctness was determined following a criterion that involved statistical parameter of dispersion measured in terms of range and coefficient of variation. Simultaneously, stability of a trait was estimated as average of coefficient of variation estimates of three year mean values of each genotype. Extent of diversity was estimated and distinctness among cultivated Indian mustard varieties could be established. Varieties were grouped into five different clusters on the basis of multivariate analysis following Euclidean distance and UPGMA method and diverse varieties from different clusters were suggested for hybridization programme. Seed weight, days to maturity, plant height, siliqua angle with main raceme, petal length, siliqua length, plant height/length of main raceme, seeds per siliqua and days to flower initiation were found more effective than leaf length, leaf width and number of leaf lobes. There was no correspondence of grouping between classification based upon mean estimate of traits and clusters based upon multivariate analysis.