analysis of interrelationships of phenological and morphological traits and grain yield of brassica species under contrasting moisture regimes

In this study 36 canola genotypes from seven different species including Brassica. napus, B. rapa, B. oleracea, B. juncea, B. carinata, B. nigra and B. friticulosa were evaluated under non-stressed, moderate and sever drought stress conditions during 2011-2012 in a field experiment. The relationships among different traits were assessed. Results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated high variation among genotypes for most of the studied traits. Cultivar by environment interaction was significant for most of the traits, suggesting differential genotypic responses to moistures conditions. The correlation results for the three B. napus, B. rapa and B. oleracea were divided in three levels of watering regime and the coefficients were found to be species-specific but overall correlation coefficients showed that there was significant and positive correlations between grain yield and number of pods per plant and 1000 grain weight, irrespective of watering regime. Results of stepwise regression were suggestive of species and watering-specificity. Under non-stress conditions the greatest direct effect on grain yield belonged to pod length for B. napus and number of pods per plant for B. rapa and B. oleracea. Results indicated that in order to improve grain yield indirectly, breeding strategies should be specific for each Brassica species.