Heterobeltiosis and interrelationship of some of important quantitative traits in oilseed rape genotypes

Abstract

AbstractHalf diallel crosses of eight spring genotypes of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) were considered to evaluate heterobeltiosis effects of plant height, yield component characters, seed yield and harvest index. Significant mean squares of general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA) were determined for all the traits except 1000-seed weight demonstrating prominence of additive and non additive genetic effects for the mentioned traits. Narrow-sense heritability estimates were high for siliquae on main raceme and 1000-seed weight representing the major importance of additive genetic effects for the characters. Most of the crosses with significant positive high parent heterosis for seed yield had also significant heterotic effects for siliquae per plant; therefore, this trait can be considered as indirect selection criterion for enhancing seed yield. Seed yield was significantly correlated with the traits including plant height, siliquae on main raceme and siliquae per plant based on mean performances of the traits and this result was confirmed with correlations based on heterobeltiosis. The crosses including L41×LF2 and L31×L401 with highly significant heterobeltiosis estimates of grain yield were superior combinations for breeding this trait. which proved good specific combiners for most of the traits.