Abstract :
Improvement of new rapeseed (Brassica
napus L.) cultivars requires efficient tools to monitor
trait relationship in a breeding program. Twenty rapeseed
genotypes including 4 cultivars and 16 advanced lines were
evaluated based on randomized complete block design with
three replications. Significant genotypes effect were exhibited
for phenological traits, plant height, seed yield and yield
components except seeds per pod. High broad sense
heritability estimates for phenological traits, plant height,
pods per plant, 1000-seed weight and seed indicating
selection gain for improving these traits will be high. Days to
maturity had low value of genetic coefficient of variation and
therefore for improving this trait, the correlated traits viz.
days to flowering and days to end of flowering can be used.
The results of factor analysis revealed three factors including
fixed capital factor (phenological traits), sink factor (pod per
plant, seeds per pod and seed yield) and secondary yield
components (pods per main axis and 1000-seed weight) for 10
studied traits. On the basis of scattering of the genotypes
based on their scores for three factors, the genotypes G19,
G18, G15, G10, G8 and G4 were classified as the same group
and all of these had high seed yield. Scattering of genotypes
based on their scores for related factors can be used as
suitable method for grouping and classifying the genotypes
for more important yield associated traits.
