Selection Indices in Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss]

The study was conducted to formulate selection indices for seed yield during rabi 2012–2013 in randomized complete block design with two replications. The discriminant function technique was used to construct selection indices in three generations of three crosses of indian mustard. A total of 32 selection indices based on six characters constructed in all possible combinations revealed that increase in relative efficiency upto 93.99% to 95.29% by direct selection of number of siliqua per plant over direct selection for seed yield per plant. When these two characters were combined for selection 71.83% to 74.42% increase in relative efficiency was observed in C-II and C-III. Based onthe performance of seed yield per plant, number of siliqua per plant and days to maturity, 50% plants were selected in BIP of C-II followed by 46% plants BIP of C-III and F₃ of C-II. In F₃ of C-I, 23% plants and in F₃ of C-III 17% plants were selected. These selected plants are suggested to be forwarded by plant to row progeny in the next generation.