VARIABILITY AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS IN F4 POPULATIONS OF Brasska rapa L.

Abstract

Fifleen F4 population of Brassica rapa of different cross combinations were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications in the experimental field of Genetics and Plant Breeding Department, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University farm, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was conducted during October 2012-March 2013 for evaluation of variability and comparison among them. Data were collected on the basis of days to 50% flowering, days to 50% maturity, plant height, number of primary branches per plant. number of secondary branches per plant, number of siliquae per plant, number of seeds per siliquac, thousand seed weight and yield per plant. Highly significant variation was observed among the genotypes for almost all the characters studied. The cross combination SAL) sarisha 1 x SAU sarisha 3 was found superior for most of the traits with the highest yield per plant. So it can he used for developing superior genotypes. From correlation analysis sigiflcant positive correlation of seed yield per plant were found with plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of siliquae per plant, number of seeds per siliquae and thousand seed weight. The results of path coefficicnt analysis indicated that number of primary branches per plant, number of siliquae per plant, number of seeds per siliquae and thousand seed weight had the positive direct effect on seed yield per plant. Uence selection based on this character would be judicious and effective for future Brassica rapa breeding program.