Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of rapeseed genotypes for yield and oil quality under rainfed conditions of district Mansehra

Inayt-ur-Rahman¹, H. Ahmad¹*, Inamullah², Sirajuddin³, Ishtiaq Ahmad¹, Fida M. Abbasi², M. Islam² and Sajidul Ghafoor²

¹Department of Botany, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan.

²Department of Genetics, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan.

³Department of Botany, Islamia College University, Peshawar, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: drhahmad@gmail.com.

Accepted 2 October, 2009

   Abstract

Five rapeseed genotypes were evaluated for agronomic parameters, yield, oil quantity and quality. Significant differences were observed for all the parameters except oil and protein percentage. The genotype Siren outperformed the rest of genotypes in yield potential (1104 kg/ha), followed by MRS-1 (866.67 kg/ha). For yield contributing characters like length of inflorescence and pods per plant, genotype Siren again showed good results that are, 51.3 cm and 136.5 pods/plant, respectively. The genotype Siren also showed low glucosinolate (44.82 µmol/g), erucic acid (23.67 µmol/g) and higher amounts of oleic acid (59.01%). Due to its high yield and oil quality, the genotype Siren is recommended for general cultivation in the area and further use in breeding programmes for Brassica napus.

Key words: Brassica napus, rapeseed, evaluation of genotypes, Mansehra.