Genetic Diversity, Correlations and Path Coefficient Analysis among the F5 Populations of Brassica Species

The present study was carried out to estimate heritability, genetic variability, correlation and genetic advance among F5 populations of ten genotypes in Brassica species. This study was executed following randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications during November 2017 to February 2018 at the experimental field of College of Agricultural Sciences, International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Aim of the research was to evaluate and select the best segregating genotypes for the yield and yield contributing traits towards variety development programs. Analysis of variance revealed that the genotypes were significantly different for all the characters studied. The relative phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits studied. The high GCV value was observed for the days to 50% flowering (FF), plant height (PH), primary branches per plant (PBP), pod per plant (PP) and seed yield per plant (SYP) that indicated a high broad-sense heritability. A significant positive correlation with seed yield per plant was found in days to 50% flowering (0.578**), the plant height, (0.787**), pod length (PL) (0.406*), seeds per plant (SP) (0.369*), pod per plant (0.697**) and hundred seeds weight (HSW) (0.500**), but significantly negative correlation found in primary branches per plant (-0.046*). The results of path coefficient analysis revealed that days to 50% flowering (0.287), plant height (0.407), pod length (0.919), seeds per plant (0.033), pod per plant (0.035) and hundred seeds weight (0.795) had a positive direct impact on seed yield per plant and thus it was indicated that these traits could be exploited for the enhancement of yield performance of Brassica species. This study showed that based on the agronomic performance execution, genotypes G2, G5, G6 and G8 might be proposed for future hybridization programs in Bangladesh followed by variety development activities.