Amit Kumar, P.N. Verma, Vinod Kumar Pandeyand Sajal Saha
Abstract
The present investigation was conducted during the Rabi season December 2022 to April 2023 at Instructional Farm Unit -4 of the Integral Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (IIAST), Integral University Lucknow. Heterosis and combining ability analysis are crucial for identifying superior parental lines and hybrid combinations to improve yield and yield-related traits in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The data is presented for ten different parent crops, namely Azad Mahak, Varuna, Pitambari, Maya, Rohini, Urvashi, RH749, PM31, NDR8501, and NDYR8. The GCA effects are significant for all the traits in all the parent crops. High estimates of general combining ability (GCA) effects were observed for traits such as plant height, number of primary branches, number of siliqua per plant, length of siliqua, and 1000-seed weight, indicating the predominance of additive gene action. The specific combining ability (SCA) effects on yield and quality attributes for yield and yield-related traits in mustard were evaluated in 45 crosses between 10 parent crops. the cross Azad Mahak x Varuna displayed significant positive SCA effects for seed yield per plant, indicating the potential of this cross to produce superior hybrids. Similarly, the cross Pitambari à Urvashi exhibited significant SCA effects for traits like number of siliqua per plant and 1000- seed weight, suggesting its potential for hybrid development. The results indicated significant heterosis effects in the crosses for all traits, suggesting the importance of heterosis in the inheritance of these traits. the cross Azad Mahak x Varuna displayed negative heterosis effects for Days to 50% flowering (-2.22), but showed a positive heterosis effect for Plant Height (4.41) and Seed Yield per Plant (8.22). This suggests that this cross may contribute positively to the height of the plant and overall yield but may not be beneficial for early flowering.