Combining Ability and Potential Heterosis in Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun)

Abstract

This study was conducted to estimate general and specific combining ability variances and potential heterosis in Brassica carinata A. Braun. Seven parental lines along with their 21 F1 crosses were planted in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 at the G.B. Pant University Crop Research Centre, India using randomized block design with three replications in three rows for each accession per replication. Data recorded for 14 traits were subjected to the Griffing (1956) method II model I genetic analysis and estimate of heterosis. Standard heterosis of the crop parameters ranged from -8.22% for harvest index to 191.57% for number of pods per plant, while for seed yield per plant it ranged from -16.64 to 66.09%. Both additive and non additive gene actions were important in controlling days to 50% flowering, pod length, percent oil content, plant height, length of main shoot, seed yield per plant, biological yield, harvest index, and number of primary and secondary branches. Additive gene action was important for the expression of days to 90% maturity, seeds per pod and thousand seeds weight. Non-additive gene actions were important in controlling the expression of pods per plant.

Keywords: Brassica carinata; Additive and Non-additive Gene Actions; Combining Ability; Standard Heterosis