Vol. 9, Issue 3, Part C (2025)

The selection of superior characteristics in plants is an important phenomenon of natural selection. Genetic variation in plants is also regarded as one of the most essential reasons of natural selection, and it has the potential to offer up new possibilities for crop trait selection.

The present investigation was carried out on mustard [Brassica juncea L. (Czern & Coss)] crop during Rabi 2023-2024. with the aims of to estimate the genetic components of variances for characters under study. The experimental material comprising of 100 treatments (10 parents + 45 F₁'s and 45 F₂'s) was evaluated in RBD with three replications. Observation was based upon nineteen quantitative characteristics. For all characteristics, the phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) estimations were greater than the genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV). Oleic acid percentage exhibited the highest phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) at 26.83%, indicating substantial variability in this trait. Following closely were the Linoleic acid percentage and Palmitic acid percentage, with PCVs of 23.84% and 23.88%. Oleic acid (%) exhibited the highest genetic variability with a GCV of 26.65%, indicating significant potential for selection in breeding programs. The heritability estimates for various traits ranged from 34.19 (Oil content) to 99.19 (Linoleic acid). As a result of the above observations, it is possible to derive that there is ample opportunity for successful crop modification for improved yield and yield-attributing traits in existing mustard germplasm.