Directorate of Research, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004
Genotypes were evaluated for the association and contribution of various morpho-physiological characters to seed yield under moisture stress conditions in oilseed brassicas. The most important first order characters were the number of secondary branches and biological yield per plant. Second order characters; days to first flower, days to maturity, plant height, height of fertility zone, number of primary branches per plant, harvest index, leaf water potential, osmotic adjustment and leaf diffusive conductance contributed to seed yield via one or more first order characters. Among physiological characters, the transpirational cooling (canopy minus air temperature difference) measured at pod initiation stage in brassicas is a rapid and nondestructive measurement and thus it could be used by breeders to screen the large number of germplasm lines for drought tolerance under field conditions.
