EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIALITY OF EIGHT ADVANCED POPULATIONS OF BRASSICA RAPA L. BASED ON YIELD AND YIELD CONTRIBUTING CHARACTERS.

In a study conducted at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University from November 2018 to February 2019, eight advanced populations of Brassica rapa L. were assessed to explore their variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlations and path coefficient considering twelve yield-contributing traits. Significant variation was observed among all populations for all traits. Minimum difference between phenotypic and genotypic variance was noted in most of the traits, while high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation occurred in the number of secondary branches per plant, number of siliquae per plant, thousand seed weight, and seed yield per plant. Traits like days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, and days to 80% maturity exhibited high heritability with low genetic advance. Conversely, the number of siliquae per plant demonstrated high heritability with high genetic advance, suggesting potentiality for trait selection. Correlation analysis identified significant positive associations between seed yield per plant and several traits. Path coefficient analysis highlighted direct positive effects on seed yield per plant from days to 80% maturity, root length, number of secondary branches per plant, and thousand seed weight. Chronologically, G6 performed the best showcasing most of the traits especially seed yield per plant and days to 80% maturity which can be considered as important breeding material for improvement of B. rapa L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]