Genetic Variability and Trait Association in Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss]

Background: Twenty-four released varieties of Indian Mustard were evaluated during rabi 2015-16 and 2016-17 under irrigated environment to study character association for seed yield and its component traits. Methods: Analysis of variance on thirteen quantitative characters was carried out and pooled over the years. Path analysis was carried out using correlation coefficients to know the yield contributing traits. Result: Significant differences were noticed for all the traits among the genotypes. The genotypic and phenotypic variation is higher for seed yield/plant, 1000 seed weight, secondary branches/plant and total siliquae/plant. Heritability estimate were very high for 1000 seed weight, siliqua length, plant height, seeds/siliqua, total siliquae/plant and days to maturity. Genetic advance as percent of mean were high for seed yield/plant, 1000 seed weight, secondary branches/plant and total siliquae/plant. The correlation of seed yield/plant shows significant positive association with days to maturity, primary branches/plant, secondary branches/plant, total siliquae/plant, siliqua length, seeds/siliqua, 1000 seed weight and length of main shoot. From correlation coefficients and path analysis it appeared that length of main shoot, 1000 seed weight, number of secondary branches/plant and days to maturity were most important yield components having highly positive direct and indirect effects.