Isolation of low erucic acid-containing genotype of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea Czern. and Coss.) through F-1 hybrid anther culture

Abstract

Reciprocal crosses were done between two cultivars; cv. RJ15 and cv. RLM198 of Indian mustard ( Brassica juncea). Anther derived lines designated as A(1) plants, were raised through anther culture from these F-1 hybrid plants. 45% germination was obtained from distinctly shriveled and small A(1) seeds and grown along with the F-2 plants in the same agro- climatic conditions. Subsequently the lines were compared for inheritance pattern between the lines. A normal frequency distribution curve for siliqua per plant was obtained in all the lines reflecting a similar pattern of recombination. Few seeds from the plants of each lines exhibiting high number of siliqua per plant, were isolated for analysis of erucic acid. Three plants in which erucic acid content was lower than the parent cultivars of A(2) generation were identified. This showed that contrasting characters could be obtained from A2 plants where the traits are oligo or monogenic through anther culture.