Combining ability analysis for seed yield and its components over environments in Indian colza (Brassica rapa L. var. yellow sarson)

Abstract

The knowledge of combining ability is useful to assess the nicking ability of parents in self-pollinated crops and at the same time elucidate the nature and magnitude of gene actions involved. Since combining ability variances for environments influence quantitative characters, the present study has been carried out over environments to obtain more precise estimates for seed yield and related characters in yellow sarson (Brassiea rapa L.). Twenty lines of yellow sarson viz. NDYS-38, NDYS-44, NDYS-9502, NDYS-9503, NDYS-9506, NDYS-9508, NDYS-9509, Binoy, MYSL-203-2, YSC-26, YSC-32, YSC-53, YSC-56, YSC-58, NRCY-5, NRCY-?, YST-151, MYSL-204, RAUDYS-81-9 and BI0-YS-1 were crossed with two testers NDYS-2 and SSK-92-13 during 1999-2000. Twenty-two parents along with 40 crosses (F1s) were grown in Randomized Block Design with three replications by sowing on 25th October 2000 for first environment (E1) at CRS Masodha and on 26th October 2000 for second environment (E2) at GPB Research Farm Kumarganj under irrigated conditions and on 14th November 2000 at CRS Masodha under late sown conditions for third environment (E3). The parents and F1S were sown in single row of 3 m long, spaced at 30 cm apart. The distance of 10 cm between plants within rows was maintained by thinning of densely grown plants after 15-20 days of sowing. One non-experimental row was sown on both sides of each replication to avoid border effect. Recommended package of practices were followed to raise the good crop.