Study of β-carotene enhancing ‘Or’ gene effects on yield and contributing traits in mid-season Indian cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

Abstract

Nature of gene action of EC 625883, an orange curd colour genotype, on yield and contributing traits in cauliflower was studied by using five generation model (P1, P2, F1, F2 and F3) in three cross combinations, viz., DC-309 × EC 625883, CC-35 × EC 625883 and DC 18-19 × EC 625883 for ten quantitative traits. The orange curd colour Or gene donor homozygous line EC 625883 and three divergent recipient mid season (November-January) maturity white curd lines, namely, DC-309, CC-35, and DC 18-19 were involved in hybridization. Generation mean analysis using scaling test indicated that epistasis gene interaction model fitted well for most of the traits under study in all the three cross combinations. The complementary type of gene interaction was observed for number of days to marketable curd maturity, total plant weight, marketable curd weight and net curd weight. The presence of complementary type of interactions and prevalence of high magnitude of non-additive gene effects suggested exploitation of heterosis breeding for improvement in cauliflower using Or gene for enhancing of β-carotene and micronutrient simultaneously.