Multivariate Analysis in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.)

The present study evaluated 30 Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.) genotypes in a randomized block design with three replications for 13 traits at research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture Science and Technology, AKS University, Satna (M.P.) India. ANOVA showed highly significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences among genotypes for all traits. Genetic variability was highest for number of seeds per siliqua (GCV 17.56%, PCV 18.04%), followed by main raceme length (GCV 17.26%, PCV 17.50%) and number of siliquae on main raceme (GCV 17.03%, PCV 17.40%), whereas days to maturity showed low variability (GCV 0.87%, PCV 1.17%). Broad-sense heritability ranged from 50.60% (oil content) to 99.40% (siliqua length) and genetic advance as percent of mean was highest for seeds per siliqua (35.21%). Genotypic and phenotypic correlations revealed that seed yield per plant was positively associated with primary branches, secondary branches, seeds per siliqua and test weight, while days to 50% flowering and days to maturity showed negative associations with yield. Path analysis indicated high model adequacy (residual effects: 0.2323 genotypic and 0.2570 phenotypic) and identified secondary branching, seeds per siliqua, and test weight as important yield determinants through positive direct and strong indirect effects. Genetic divergence grouped the genotypes into six clusters, with three solitary clusters indicating highly distinct genotypes; siliqua length contributed the most to divergence (36.90%), followed by main raceme length (14.25%) and plant height (14.14%).