Combining ability analysis for various characters in brown sarson (Brassica campestris L.)

The combining ability studies made over environments (sowing dates) for nin e characters in brown sarson using "9x3" line x tester set revealed both ge neral combining ability (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) componen ts were significant for all the evaluated characters, viz., plant height, m ain shoot length, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of siliqua on main shoot, siliqua length, seeds per siliqua, 1000-s eed weight and seed yield per plant. Both gca and sea effects were influenc ed by environments. The parents, Pusa Kalyani, BSH-1, DBS-1 and BSIK-1 havi ng been observed as good general combiners for seed yield and other yield i nfluencing traits also, offer the best possibilities of exploitation for th e development of improved lines. The cross combination "BSIK-1 x BSIK-2" an d "BSC-199 x BSH-1" were observed to be the best crosses and are expected t o throw transgressive segregants and need exploitation in breeding programm es. Both additive and non-additive gene effects played role in the inherita nce of different traits.