Environmental effects on genetic parameters for oil and seed meal quality components of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract

The effects of environmental factors on genetic parameters for oil, protein content, fatty acid profile and glucosinolate content in a set of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) varieties and their interrelationships were studied. The growing environments greatly influenced the estimates of phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance. The highest and the lowest PCV were observed for eicosenoic acid (15.7-34.6%) and oil content (2.1-4.1%) in different growing seasons. The genetic variability, in general, over the 3 growing seasons was the highest for eicosenoic acid followed by saturated fatty acid and linolenic acid. Erucic acid, by and large, consistently expressed high heritability estimates (> 70.0%) while eicosenoic acid showed moderate heritability irrespective of the growing seasons. The saturated fatty acids (SFA), linoleic, linolenic and eicosenoic acid consistently showed moderate to high genetic advance over the growing seasons. Low to moderate heritability associated with moderate to high genetic advance for linoleic, linolenic and eicosenoic acid suggested the pre-dominance of non-additive gene effects in the expression of these characters. None of the characters investigated showed a consistent pattern of association over the 3 cropping seasons. Erucic acid showed negative and significant relationship with oleic and linoleic acid.