CHARACTERIZATION AND DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF THE OLEIFEROUS Brassica species

Abstract

An experiment was carried out with 40 oleiferous Brassica species to evaluate the performance for seed yield and yield components, characterization, variability, correlation, path co-efficient analysis and genetic divergence. The genotypes showed wide variation for morphological characteristics and thus were categorized under three cultivated species- B. rapa, B. napus and B. juncea. Significant variation was observed among the genotypes tested. Considering genetic parameters. high CCV value was observed for plant height, number of siliquae/plant, days to 50% Ilowering and days to maturity. High heritability values along with high genetic advance in percentage of mean were obtained for si(iqua length, number of seeds/siliqua, number of primary branches/plant and number of secondary branches/plant. Correlation studies revealed highly significant positive association of yield/plant with number of primary branches/plant, number of secondary branches/plant, number of seeds/siliqua and number of siliquac/plant. Path analysis showed that yield/plant had the highest direct effect on days to maturity, number of seeds/siliqua, number of siliqune/plant and number of primary branches/plant and number of secondary branches/plant. I)iversity was estimated by cluster distance and genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Principal component analysis, cluster analysis and canonical variate analysis exhibited similar results. Cluster II had the maximum 10 and cluster I and III had the minimum 5 number of genotypes. The highest intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster V. The highest intercluster distance was observed between cluster I and VI and the lowest was between the cluster Ill and V. The characters for number of secondary branches/plant, number of siliquae/plant and yield/plant contributed maximum divergence. Considering diversity pattern, genetic status and other agronomic performances 14 materials viz. BD-6948 and SAUYC from cluster I: BD-9063, BD-9064 and BD-9071 from cluster II; LID-9068 and BD-9077 from cluster Ill; BD-9078, BL)- 9106 and RD-6949 from cluster IV; BD-9079 and BD-9081 from cluster V and 13D-9100 and BD-7812 from cluster VI, could be used as superior parents for mustard and rape improvement programme.