Elucidation of genetic variability and inter-relationship studies for seed yield and quality traits in Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss]

Forty five genotypes of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss] were evaluated for seed yield and quality traits in Randomized Block Design with four replications during the Rabi, 2019-2020. The analysis of variance revealed that the mean sum of squares due to genotypes was significant for all the eighteen characters studied indicating the presence of variability for all the traits among the genotypes under study. Low difference between genotypic and phenotypic variances revealed that the contribution of genotypic variance to total variance was more for all the traits except days to maturity and plant height. The high values of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation for the number of branches per plant, seed yield per plant , myristic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid which indicated the potential variability available for these traits. The high heritability estimates obtained in conjunction with high genetic advance were observed for the number of branches per plant, the number of siliquae per plant, seeds per siliqua, length of siliqua , 1000-seed weight , seed yield per plant , myristic acid , palmitic acid, stearic acid , linoleic acid , linolenic acid and glucosinolate suggesting the predominant role of additive gene action for their expression. Association analysis between seed yield per plant and other seventeen characters revealed significantly positive correlation of seed yield per plant with the number of siliquae per plant, seeds per siliqua, length of siliquam, myristic acid and erucic acid. Path analysis revealed positive direct effects of the number of siliquae per plant and seeds per siliqua towards seed yield per plant while myristic acid, the number of branches per plant had a positive indirect effect on seed yield per plant via the number of siliquae per plant suggesting that the selection for such traits would be more effective for improving seed yield in Indian mustard.