Evaluation of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) for its genetic diversity, heritability, and growth in relation to seed yield and the factors that influence

Abstract

The present study, titled “Evaluation of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) for its Genetic Diversity, Heritability, and Growth in Relation to Seed Yield and the Factors that Influence.” was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024-25 at the Agricultural Research Farm, Prof. Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) University, Naini, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Thirteen mustard genotypes, including a check variety, were evaluated under a randomised block design with three replications to assess genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation, and path coefficient analysis. Data were. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for seed yield collected for 11 traits. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among genotypes for all traits, indicating the presence of considerable genetic variability in the experimental material per plot (17.72% and 25.70%), seed yield per plant (25.44% and 26.88%), and number of siliqua per plant (9.31% and 12.61%), suggesting the influence of additive gene action. Heritability estimates ranged from moderate to high, with the highest heritability recorded for seed yield per plot (0.8964%), number 0f seed in siliqua (0.9484%), and seed yield per plant (0.8957%). Correspondingly, high genetic advance as percentage of mean was observed for seed yield per plot (51.61%), seed yield per plant (49.61%), and number of siliqua per plant (14.17%), number of seed per plant (29.63%) number of seed in siliqua (24.77%) Genotypic correlation analysis revealed that seed yield per plot had a highly significant and positive association with branches per plant (0.838**), seed yield per plant (0.9387**), number of seed per plant (1.1249**), and seed yield per plot (0.9314**), indicating their crucial role in yield enhancement. Path coefficient analysis at the genotypic level further confirmed that biological yield (0.357), harvest index (0.473), and number of seed per plant (0.1092) had the highest direct positive effects on seed yield per plot.