Combining ability in some varieties of winter oil rape (brassica napus l.)

Abstract

Five winter oil rape varieties (Falcon, Banaćanka, Sremica, Jet Neuf and Samuray) have been studied for general and specific combining abilities, mode of inheritance and gene effects for the number of leaves per plant and stem diameter. The varieties were examined in a diallel set of crosses excluding reciprocals. Falcon was the best general combiner for the number of leaves per plant, Banacanka for stem diameter. Samuray was the poorest general combiner for both traits. Dominance of the better parent and heterosis were expressed in the inheritance of the number of leaves per plant. Heterosis for stem diameter was registered in one cross. Genes with additive effect predominated in the inheritance of the number of leaves per plant, genes with dominant effect in the inheritance of stem diameter. The variety Falcon may be used as a component of synthetic varieties for improvement of the number of leaves per plant, the variety Jet Neuf for improvement of stem diameter.