Trends in Biosciences

The nature of gene interaction in the inheritance of 13 yield and its components traits was studied deploying generation mean analysis following 6 parameter models for parents P₁ and P₂, F₁, F₂, and B₁ and B₂ generations of four crosses of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern& Coss]. Additive and non additive gene action involve in seed yield per plant in all crosses, number of seeds per siliquae and number of siliquae per plant in the crosses GM 1 x Vardan and IC 491446 x GM 2 with greater magnitude of non additive gene action for inheritance of character. All three types of digenic interactions among the linked pairs of genes, additive × additive (î), additive × dominance (5) and dominance × dominance (ĵ), contributed significantly in the inheritance of number of seeds per siliquae in cross IV; length of main branch in cross IC 491446 x GM 2; test weight in cross IC 491446 x GM 2 and PM 67 xVaruna with greater magnitude of dominance × dominance interaction (). The additive × additive()interaction had greater magnitude in protein content in cross IC 491446 x GM 2. The x² value of joint scaling test was found significant in most of characters in all the crosses. Duplicate epistasis was evident for most of the characters of yield and its attributes in different crosses of the Indian mustard.