Combining ability analysis in Brassica juncea L. for oil quality traits

This study was conducted in Brassica juncea L. for the determination of good combiners for quality associated traits using 8 x 8 diallel during 2004 - 2005 and 2005 - 2006. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences (p <= 0.01) for all the studied traits. Components of combining ability analysis showed that general combining ability (GCA) was highly significant (p <= 0.01) for oil percentage (%) and glucosinolates (mu Molg-1) whereas the rest were non-significant. Specific combining ability (SCA) effects were highly significant for all traits except for oleic acids. Reciprocal combining ability (RCA) effects were highly significant (p <= 0.01) for all traits except for oleic acid which was significant at (p <= 0.05). The SCA effects were higher than RCA for oil %. The GCA effects were of greater magnitude than the SCA effects for glucosinolate, erucic acid and protein content. The parental genotypes NUM009, NUM123, NUM105 and NUM117 and their hybrids NUM009x NUM123, NUM103x NUM105, NUM113x NUM124 and NUM103x NUM120 had high GCA and SCA effects, respectively and therefore these could be exploited for further selection of high yielding progenies. The overall study reveals the importance of both additive and non-additive genetic variability suggesting the use of integrated breeding strategies which can efficiently utilize the additive as well as non-additive genetic variability.