Combining ability analysis of seed yield and oil content in brassica

Combining ability analysis of a 10 × 10 diallel set of crosses in Indian mustard for ten characters revealed preponderance of non-additive gene action for most of the characters including seed yield and oil content. Additive genetic variance was more important for days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity and plant height for which high estimate of heritability was also observed. The parent 0–3 was the best general combiner for seed yield, oil content and other yield component characters except primary branches. BM-193 was good general combiner for seed yield and other component characters. The parents BM-106, BM-179 and BM-205 were good general combiners for oil content and 1000 seed weight. GP-14 and GP-57 showed desirable gca for earliness and dwarfness. Among the crosses, BM-66 × BM-179 showed superior sca effects for seed yield, 1000 seed weight, plant height and primary branches. The cross BM-179 × 0–3 showed superior sca effects for oil content. Majority of the crosses showing high sca effects for seed yield involved high × low gca parents.