Genetic Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance and Cluster Analysis in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) Under Timely and Late Sown Conditions

Two sets of field experiments were conducted at Genetics and Plant Breeding Research Farm of Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Faizabad(U.P.), India during Rabi 2014-15 with 30 diverse genotypes of Indian mustard including three checks (Kranti, Vardan and RGN-73) to assess the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance under timely (TS) and late sown (LS) conditions. The genotypes were evaluated for thirteen quantitative characters. The analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters. The maximum phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variability was observed for biological yield plant-1 in timely sown condition while in late sown condition the maximum phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variability was observed for seed yield plant-1. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for biological yield plant-1 and seed yield plant-1 in both TS and LS conditions indicating the influence of additive gene effects. D2 analysis grouped the 30 genotypes into six clusters. The distribution of genotypes in both the environments was different. Maximum genotypes (11) were present in cluster II in TS while maximum genotypes (12) were present in cluster IV in LS. The maximum inter cluster distance was observed between clusters IV and VI in TS while in LS the clusters II and VI showed maximum inter cluster distance. Hybridization among the genotypes separated by high inter-cluster distance will result in most heterotic crosses.