Pramod Sharma, Sudheer K. Pathak, Vedant Sachan and Shama Parveen
Abstract
The present investigation, titled âAssessment of Genetic Variability and Correlation Analysis among Genotypes of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.),â was conducted at the Crop Research Centre, Sithouli, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh during the 2022-23 crop season. The study aimed to evaluate genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, and correlations among agronomic traits in 17 mustard genotypes. The experimental design was based on a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), and statistical analyses were performed using methods described by Panse and Sukhatme (1962) and Hanson et al. (1956). The analysis revealed high genetic coefficients of variation for plant height (GCV = 294.91%) and days to maturity (GCV = 107.76%), and high phenotypic coefficients of variation for plant height (PCV = 320.43%) and days to maturity (PCV = 117.07%). All traits exhibited high heritability, with plant main shoot length showing the highest heritability (99.76%). Genetic advance estimates were high for plant height (33.93) and moderate for days to maturity (20.51). Correlation analysis demonstrated significant negative correlations between plant height and maturity period (rp = -0.595**, rg = -0.639**), and between days to 50% flowering and 1000-seed weight (rp = -0.446**, rg = -0.575*). Positive correlations were observed between 1000-seed weight and plant height (rp = 0.579**, rg = 0.620**), and between seed yield per plant and maturity period (rp = 0.340*, rg = 0.545*). These findings indicate that selection for traits like plant height and 1000-seed weight can be beneficial for improving seed yield and oil content in Indian mustard breeding programs. The studyâs results provide a basis for future breeding efforts aimed at optimizing yield and quality traits in Brassica juncea.