Inheritance of essential fatty acids and correlation among different fatty acids in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

Three reciprocal cross between 3 quality lines and 2 verities attempted and segregation pattern in F2 and backcrosses generations were studied during 2003-05. The non-significant differences between F1 and their reciprocals for both the fatty acids indicated absence of the maternal influence. The observed ratio was in agreement with expected ratio of 1:2:1 in F2 generation indicated by non significant values of chi-square test. Further segregation pattern of F2 was confirmed by the non significant x2 value in backcrossed generations and calculation of minimum number of effective factor pairs. Correlation studies among the fatty acids revealed that Erucic acid was negatively correlated with palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. The linoleic and linolenic acids had positively associated with each other as well as with oleic acid. From the present findings it is quite obvious that linoleic and linolenic fatty acids in Indian mustard oil are governed by single gene which can be easily transferred by backcrossing.