Master of Science in Agriculture

117 Pages·2016·1.62 MB·English

Heterosis and Gene Effect Studies for Seed
Yield and Related Traits in Indian-Mustard
(Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss)

Thesis

Submitted to

G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology,
Pantnagar- 263145, U.S. Nagar, Uttarakhand, India

By
Sanjana Pathak
B.Sc.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT
FOR THE DEGREE Of

Master of Science in Agriculture
(Genetics and Plant Breeding)

July 2016
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Every project big or small cannot be successful without the efforts of people who
genuinely offer help and support to the best of their capability and knowledge. I take this
opportunity to thank all the wonderful people whose efforts are visible on every single page
of this thesis.
At this juncture, I feel deeply honored to extend gratitude to my advisor Dr. Usha
Pant, J.R.O., Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding who has been a friend, philosopher
and a wonderful guide throughout my degree programme. I want to thank her for making the
resources available at the right time, for inspiring me when I was not feeling confident, for
offering honest criticism wherever it could improve my work and spending long hours in the
field and the laboratory just to make sure that my work kept moving at a smooth pace. Her
benevolence, sincerity and hard work will always keep her alive in my memories as the best
guide I could have had during the course of my programme.
This thesis would have not turned out the way it has without the experience, intellect
and empowering acumen of Dr. Ram Bhajan, Professor, Department of Genetics and Plant
Breeding, who patiently answered my queries, offered his vast expanse of knowledge and
made sure that every detail of thesis was free from mistakes and flaws.
A debt of gratitude is owed to Dean, College of Agriculture; Dean, College of Post
Graduate Studies; Registrar; Head, Genetics & Plant Breeding and University librarian for
providing me the essential facilities to conduct the proposed investigations.
Kind cooperation extended by all the members of the oilseed breeding. I am grateful
to Joint Director, Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, Pantnagar and Director,
Experiment stations for providing me the essential facilities to conduct the proposed
investigation.
The knowledge and expertise used for this thesis was made accessible to me by the
members of my advising committee especially Dr. Anil Kumar, J.R.O, Department of
Genetics and Plant Breeding and all the respected teachers of our department.
I extend my deepest regards to Mr. Dinesh Singh Karki, Mr. Thapa, Mr. Ramdhyan
and all the workers of oilseed breeding group who supported my work in every possible way
both in the laboratory and field.
I wish to acknowledge my family for the never ending affection, blessings and for
having faith in my potential. I am immensely pleased to offer every single synonym of
gratitude to my father Late Mr. Sanjay Pathak whose conviction and lessons have never left
me alone even in the hardest of times. The kindness of my mother Mrs. Krishna Pathak and
inspiring devotion of my brother Mr. Devesh Pathak gave me the courage to take the right
decisions when the tide was not in my favor.
There are no words in the dictionary that can correctly fathom the tremendous energy
and love that has been showered upon me by my dearest friends Laxmi Pangti, Tabassum
Ahmed, Seema Prasad, Aolemla Pongen, Vineha Puri, Shikhar Sharma, Chetna Kandpal,
Ajay Kumar Dhyani, Lalit Joshi and my senior Deepankar Pandey. These people offered
laughter, empathy and encouragement that kept me cheerful throughout my journey.

Pantnagar
July, 2016
CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “Heterosis and Gene Effect
Studies for Seed Yield and Related Traits in Indian-Mustard (Brassica
juncea L. Czern & Coss)” submitted in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture with
major in Genetics and Plant Breeding of the College of Post Graduate
Studies, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, is a
record of bona fide research carried out by Ms. Sanjana Pathak, Id. No.
45470, under my supervision and no part of the thesis have been submitted
for any other degree or diploma.
The assistance and help received during the course of this
investigation have been acknowledged.
CERTIFICATE

We, the undersigned, members of the Advisory Committee
of Ms. Sanjana Pathak, Id. No. 45470, a candidate for the degree
of Master of Science in Agriculture with major in Genetics and
Plant Breeding agree that the thesis entitled “Heterosis and
Gene Effect Studies for Seed Yield and Related Traits in
Indian-Mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss)” may be
submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree.
CONTENTS

S. No. CHAPTER PAGE No.
1. INTRODUCTION
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
LITERATURE CITED
VITA
ABSTRACTS
LIST OF TABLES
Table
Title
No.
3.1 Weather data and weather report at Pantnagar during 2015-16.
3.2 Description of Family A
3.3 Description of Family B
3.4 Description of Family C
3.5 Description of Family D
3.6 Number of plants selected randomly for study in each generation
3.7 Analysis of variance for pooled analysis
3.8 Genetic models and their parameters
3.9 Chi-square test for goodness of fit for different models in the order of increasing
complexity
3.10 Generation mean, weights and coefficients
4.1.1 Pooled analysis of variance (Compact Family Block Design) of different families
for various quantitative characters
4.1.2 Pooled analysis of variance (Compact Family Block Design) of different families
for various quantitative characters
4.2.1.1 The estimates of scaling tests for days to maturity
4.2.1.2 The estimates of scaling tests for plant height
4.2.1.3 The estimates of scaling tests for length of main raceme
4.2.1.4 The estimates of scaling tests for number of primary branches per plant
4.2.1.5 The estimates of scaling tests for number of secondary branches per plant
4.2.1.6 The estimates of scaling tests for number of siliquae on main raceme
4.2.1.7 The estimates of scaling tests for number of siliquae length
4.2.1.8 The estimates of scaling tests for number of seeds per siliqua
4.2.1.9 The estimates of scaling tests for 1000-seed weight
4.2.1.10 The estimates of scaling tests for oil content
4.2.1.11 The estimates of scaling tests for seed yield per plant
4.2.1.12 The estimates of scaling tests for glucosinolate content
4.2.2.1 Adequacy of different models by test for different characters for Family A
4.2.2.2 Adequacy of different models by test for different characters for Family B
4.2.2.3 Adequacy of different models by test for different characters for Family C
4.2.2.4 Adequacy of different models by test for different characters for Family D
4.2.3.1 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model with respective
value and type of epistasis involved for days to maturity
4.2.3.2 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model with respective
value and type of epistasis involved for plant height
4.2.3.3 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model with respective
value and type of epistasis involved for length of main raceme
4.2.3.4 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model with respective
value and type of epistasis involved for number of primary branches per plant
Table Title
No.
4.2.3.5 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model
with respective value and type of epistasis involved for
number of secondary branches per plant
4.2.3.6 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model
with respective value and type of epistasis involved for siliquae
on main raceme
4.2.3.7 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model
with respective value and type of epistasis involved for
number of siliqua length
4.2.3.8 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model
with respective value and type of epistasis involved for
number of seeds per siliqua
4.2.3.9 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model
with respective value and type of epistasis involved for
number of 1000-seed weight
4.2.3.10 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model
with respective value and type of epistasis involved for oil content
4.2.3.11 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model
with respective value and type of epistasis involved for seed
yield per plant
4.2.3.12 Estimates of genetic parameter under the adequate genetic model
with respective value and type of epistasis involved for
glucosinolate content
4.3.1 Gene effects vis-à-vis observed heterosis over MP and estimated
heterosis based on gene effects for seed yield
4.3.2 Gene effects vis-à-vis observed heterosis over MP and estimated
heterosis based on gene effects for number of primary branches per
plant
4.3.3 Gene effects vis-à-vis observed heterosis over MP and estimated
heterosis based on number of secondary branches per plant
5.1 Adequacy of genetic models by 2 test for different characters
IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn
C h a p t e r - 1 INTRODUCTION
Oilseed brassicas, also known as rapeseed-mustard, are among the largest traded
agriculture commodities. The combined volume of exports of rapeseed and mustard seed
oils is almost 10.07% of the total vegetable oilseeds. Growing importance and consequent
research investments have led to dynamic breakthroughs in yield and seed quality.
Modification of the seed oil and reduction of meal glucosinolate content by Canadian
breeders in rapeseed during the early 1970’s was a plant breeding feat that stands next
only in importance to the agricultural modification in cereals. Since then, enormous strides
have been made. Hybrids have been commercialized, and all crop brassica genomes were
sequenced. World output of rapeseed mustard crops rose from about 36 million tons in
2001/2 to 70 million tons in 2013/14. However the demand for rapeseed-mustard oils
continues to escalate steeply due to increasing consumption and diversion of bioenergy
use.
Rapeseed-mustard crops in India include toria (B. rapa L. var. toria), brown sarson
(B. rapa L. var. brown sarson), yellow sarson (B. rapa L. var. yellow sarson), Indian
mustard [B. juncea (L.) Czern & Coss], black mustard (B. nigra) and taramira (Eruca
satva / vesicara Mill.) species. These along with non-traditional species like gobhi sarson
(B. napus L.) and karan rai (B. carinata A. Braun) have been recorded to be grown since
ancient time. Indian mustard occupies more than 80% of the total rapeseed mustard
cultivated area, contributes nearly 27% of edible oil pool in India, and accounts for >13%
of the global edible oil production. It ranks second after groundnut in oilseed crops.
Extracted oil of mustard is used for cooking media as well as industrial purposes. The
seeds are used as spices in the preparation of pickles, curries, sauces and salad. Mustard
tender leaves are also used for culinary purposes. The meal cake is used as cattle feed and
seeds have medicinal properties. In Northern India, mustard oil is mainly utilized for
human consumption (Vaghela et al., 2011). During the last decade, the yield of mustard in
India is almost static, hovering around 1-1.2 tonnes/ha, which is much below than the
world’s average of 1.98 tonnes/ha. There is a much wider yield gaps when productivity of
mustard in India is compared with 4.3 tonnes/ha in Germany, 3.8 tonnes/ha in France and
3.4 tonnes/ ha in UK (Yadava et al., 2012).
Indian mustard (Brassica juncea, AABB; 2n = 36) is a natural amphiploid between
B. rapa (AA; 2n = 20) and B. nigra (BB; 2n = 16). It arose several times through
independent hybridization events in the sympatric areas of the diploid progenitor species
(Prakash et al., 2009; Kaur et al., 2014). Its genetic base, restricted by the dual bottlenecks
of polyploidy and domestication, stands further eroded by intensive plant breeding
activities (Chauhan et al., 2011; Banuelos et al., 2013). Narrow genetic base coupled with
a lack of architectural variations is now undermining the ability of plant breeders to
improve productivity in this premier oilseed crop of Indian sub-continent. B. juncea also
possesses adaptive potential for drier ecologies of Australia and Canada (Wijesundera et
al. 2008). Like other alloploid crops, Indian mustard expresses low heterosis (Bansal et al.
2012). As allelic diversity is considered central to the expression of heterosis (Falconer
and Mac-Kay 1996), intensive efforts have been made to widen its genetic base by
exploiting various germplasm sources (Banga and Labana 1984; Jain et al. 1994) or by
artificial resynthesis (Bansal et al. 2009, 2012).
Due to its wide cultivation it is essential to identify high yielding genotypes on the
basis of genetic parameters to formulate effective breeding programme. The important
economic character which is of prime importance is yield and is an outcome of
multiplicative interaction of component characters. For breeding high yielding varieties of
crop plants, breeders usually face the problem of selection of desirable parents. In general,
parents are selected on basis of their per se performance, but many times high yielding
genotype may/may not transmit its superiority to progeny. Knowledge of genetic
parameters is vital for the effectiveness of selection for improvement of target character.
Interrelationship among characters is highly useful in selecting characters, which are not
easily observed or genotypic values of which are modified by the environmental effects. It
also helps the breeders to know the nature, extent and direction of selection pressure
among the characters. However, information on such aspects involving physiological
parameters of Indian mustard is lacking.
Large genotype × environment effects tend to be viewed as problematic in
breeding because the lack of a predictable response hinders progress from selection
(Dudley and Moll, 1969). Dudley (1997) have emphasized that information on the
inheritance of quantitative traits have application in planning breeding strategies for
cultivar development. Finding a suitable breeding method and identifying a selection
strategy for trait improvement would depend on the knowledge of gene effects operating
in the breeding population.