Combining Ability Analysis for Seed Yield and its Components in Gobhi Sarson (Brassica Napus L.)

In a study to estimate combining ability in Brassica napus (Gobhi Sarson) 10 genotypes were crossed in diallel fashion to obtain 45 F1for gca and sea respectively. Twelve characters were recorded to elicit information regarding the desirable parents and crosses for their use in future breeding programme. Based on general and specific combining variances it was observed that in this case non-additive gene action for all twelve characters except seed filling period and seed yield per plant was predominant. The parent B. napus-2 was the best general combiner for seed yield, length of main shoot, number of siliquae on main shoot, days to 50% flowering and plant height. Whereas, TR-3, ISN706, B. napus (E)-1 and B. napus (E)-2 were also good general combiner for seed yield and several other characters. While two parents namely GLS-1 and EC-400802 were good general combiner for oil content only. Among the crosses, 15 crosses showed desirable sea effect for seed yield per plant along with two to five other yield attributing characters. The cross TR-3 x ISN-706 showed significant sea effect for days to 50% flowering and maturity, seed filling period, plant height, number of primary, number of secondary branches, number of siliquae on main shoot number of seeds per siliqua, seed yield and oil content. The superior specific combinations resulted might primarily be due to their high x low, high x high, low x low or low x high gca parents.