Comparison of residual heterosis in F₂ and F₃ segregating generations of Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.] crosses

The present investigation was undertaken to study the residual heterosis in F₂ and F₃ populations of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.]. The study material included eight parents and the 28 crosses of Indian mustard in two generations, namely F₂ and F₃. The experiment was conducted over two years at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, during Rabi season 2020-21 and 2021-22. Out of the 28 crosses, three crosses namely, Npj-194 × DRMR-15-16, Npj-194 × RW- 85-59 (Sarma) and Npj-194 × SKJM-05 were found to show significantly positive residual standard heterosis over the standard variety (SKJM-05) for both the characters siliquae per plant and seed yield per plant. This provides us evidence that by improving siliquae per plant, the character seed yield per plant can be improved. The promising cross populations which have shown significant standard heterosis for seed yield in F₂ and F₃, can be utilized for the development of hybrid varieties, which would be very much beneficial to the marginal farmers of our country as they would be able to use the F₂ and F₃ seeds of the hybrid varieties without any compromise with seed yield.