Correlation and Regression Analyses of Disease and Agronomic Traits of Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica Carinata A. Braun.) Genotypes

Ethiopian mustard (<i>Brassica carinata A. Braun</i>) is an important oilseed crop with significant potential for food and energy production. The study evaluated 36 genotypes using a 6 x 6 lattice design to analyze correlations and regression among traits, aiming to understand their relationships and identify key traits for developing high-performing varieties. The analysis of variance revealed significant variation (p < 0.001) for traits including seed yield, flowering time, maturity date, disease resistance, thousand seed weight, oil content and oil yield; indicating the potential for genetic improvement. However, traits such as downy mildew resistance, leaf spot and branching showed non-significant variation, suggesting these traits may be more influenced by environmental factors than by genetic differences among the genotypes. Pearson correlation coefficients highlighted significant relationships among traits. Days to flowering (r = 0.687) and maturity (r = 0.029) positively correlated with yield, while disease traits negatively impacted seed yield. Notably, Thousand Seed Weight (r = 0.985) strongly correlated with yield, underscoring the importance of seed size. A multiple regression model explained 99.7% of the variation in seed yield, with a highly significant intercept (1863.35, p < 0.001). Key associations were found with secondary branches (12.32), oil content (-46.79) and oil yield (2.19). This study confirms the potential for improving Ethiopian mustard yield through genetic selection of key traits. It is recommended that breeding programs focus on enhancing seed size and disease resistance while considering environmental factors to maximize yield potential.