GENETIC VARIABILITY AND TRAIT CORRELATIONS IN BRASSICA GENOTYPES FOR YIELD OPTIMIZATION

This study explores the genetic variability and trait interrelationships among 15 Brassica juncea genotypes, focusing on six key traits: Leaf Area (LA), Stomatal Conductance (SC), Chlorophyll Content (CC), Length of Silique (LS), Number of Seeds per Silique (NS), and Total Yield per Plant (TY).Using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications were used in this experiment under field conditions.Highly significant differences (p < 0.01) were found for LA, CC, and LS, indicating these traits are strongly influenced by genetic factors.The results highlighted the superior performance of genotypes G12, G6, and G1.Genotypes G12 and G6 showed greater vegetative growth and photosynthetic efficiency, while G1 excelled in reproductive traits such as LS and NS.Genotypes G7 and G9 exhibited lower performance across most of the studied traits.Correlation analysis showed strong positive associations among LA with SC (r = 0.98**) and CC (r = 0.87**); SC with LS (r = 0.94**) and NS (r = 0.84**).While TY showed positive association with LS (r = 0.93**), LA (r = 0.84**), and NS (r = 0.85**), indicating that improvement in one trait could enhance the others.The study underscores the importance of these interrelated traits in influencing overall yield and provides valuable insights for Brassica juncea breeding programs.These findings provide a foundation for selecting high-performing genotypes and targeting specific traits to improve Brassica crop productivity.