Assessment of genetic variability, heritability and selection response for morph-yield traits in brassica

An experiment was conducted at The University of Agricultural Peshawar during 2015-16 to determine heritability and genetic advance of morph-yield traits to set up suitable selection criteria for further improvement. The experimental material comprised of 27 genotypes i.e. nine each of Brassica napus, Brassica campestris and Brassica juncea were evaluated in RCB design with three replication. Data were recorded on plant height, main raceme length, pods on main raceme, pod length, pod width, seed pod-1, 100 seed weight and seed yield plant-1. Significant differences (p≤0.01) were observed in all genotypes for all traits. Tallest plant height (237.1) was recorded for N-550, maximum main raceme length (114.5) was noted for C-136, maximum pods on main raceme (94 pods) was observed for N-531, longest pod length (7.0) was recorded for N-514 and N-531, broader pod width (0.54) was recorded for N-548, maximum seed pod-1 (28) was noted for J-133, maximum 100 seed weight (61g) and seed yield plant-1 (37.30) was recorded for C-117. Pods on main raceme and pod length exhibited high heritability (0.87) followed by Seed pod-1 (0.86), Main raceme length (0.83), Primary branches plant-1 (0.80), Pod width (0.79), Seed yield plant-1 (0.77), 100 seeds weight (0.71) and Plant height (0.66). Maximum selection response as percent of mean was noted for Seed pod-1 (47.27%) followed by Seed yield plant-1 (36.41%), Primary branches plant-1 (34.47%), pods on main raceme (27.25%), pod length (25.95%), Main raceme length (19.89%), Pod width (12.23%) and Plant height (10.99%). Considerable genetic variances, high heritability estimates and enviable selection response implied that the mentioned genotypes could be used in future brassica breeding programs.