Patterns of Genetic Variation, Correlations under Irrigated and Rainfed Conditions in Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss.]

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on 77 advanced progenies (F6) of Indian mustard in augmented block design under irrigated (E1) and water stressed (E2) conditions to know the patterns of genetic variability and correlations under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Observations were recorded on 12 morphological characters. The estimates of heritability under irrigated conditions were of higher magnitude (>50%) for main shoot length, siliquae on main shoot, siliquae length, seed yield/plant and 1000 seed weight, whereas under rainfed conditions, secondary branches/ plant, siliquae on main shoot, siliquae length and 1000 seed weight recorded higher estimates of heritability. For other characters (siliquae/plant, main shoot length and seed yield/plant) moderate estimates of heritability were observed. Under irrigated conditions, seed yield/plant was positively and significantly correlated with plant height (0.241), primary branches/plant (0.381), secondary branches/plant (0.493), fruiting zone length (0.295), siliquae/plant (0.562), biological yield (0.852) and harvest index (0.613) while under rainfed conditions, seed yield/plant was significantly and positively correlated with plant height (0.445), primary branches/plant (0.443), secondary branches/plant (0.611), fruiting zone length (0.505), siliqua/plant (0.729), main shoot length (0.410), seeds/siliqua (0.283), biological yield (0.774) and harvest index (0.482).