ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC PARAMETERSIN RAPESEED GENOTYPES

The current study was carried out to estimatecorrelation, heritability, and genetic distance in ten (Punjab sarson, Hyola-401, Rainbow, Waster, Abasion-95, Hyola-42, Hbo-555, Mun-1, Kangola and Kn-277) rapeseed genotypes at Botanical Garden, SAU, Tandojam during the crop season 2018-19. The data were collected of seven different traits plant height (cm), branches plant-1, silique plant-1, seeds silique-1, silique length (cm), seed yield plant-1 and seed index) for further genetic analysis. Mean squares displayed that all studied characters were differed significantly, showing that exploited rapeseed genotypes retain valuable genetic resources hence may be used in future breeding programs. Of the total traits, four traits such as silique plant-1 (r = 0.33*), seeds silique-1 (r = 0.34*), silique length (r = 0.35*) and seed index (r = 0.31*) showed positive and significant associations with seed yield plant-1, demonstrating that utilization of these traits will enhance seed yield in rapeseed genotypes; however, these characters may be set as selection criteria for evolving high yield rapeseed genotypes. The maximum(179.23) genetic distance was found between Hyola-42 and Mun-1, followed by Hyola-42 and Hbo-555 (166.10), Mun-1 and Kn-277 (162.38), Abasin-95 and Mun-1 (156.79), Hyola-401 and Mun-1 (148.79), Hbo-555 and Kn-277 (148.52), Westar and Mun-1 (146.36) and Abasin-95 and Hbo-555 (143.61). These pairs of genotypes may be given priority in the hybridization program because they carry different genetic recombination and will lead to a great amount of heterosis in hybrids. High heritability was estimated for plant height (h2= 95.54%), branches plant-1 (h2=80.92%), silique plant-1 (h2=84.26%), seeds silique-1 (h2 =90.20%), silique length (h2= 82.60%), seed yield plant-1 (h2=79.12%) and seed index (h2 =66.66%), signifying that these traits were under genetic control.