Comparative analysis of heat stress indices for selection of thermo-tolerant genotypes in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)
- 1Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University
- 2CCS Haryana Agricultural University
Abstract
Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is a major oilseed crop in India, accounting for about 90% of the country’s Brassica oilseed area. Increasing heat stress, particularly terminal heat stress during flowering and grain filling, is a significant threat to mustard productivity. This study aimed to identify heat-tolerant mustard genotypes using yield-based stress tolerance indices. A total of 154 genotypes were evaluated under timely-sown (non-stress) and late-sown (terminal heat-stress) conditions over two Rabi seasons in an augmented block design. Grain yield data were used to compute eleven stress tolerance indices. Analysis of variance revealed significant genetic variability among genotypes for all indices. Correlation and principal component analyses identified STI, GMP, MP, HM and MRP as the most effective indices for selecting high-yielding, heat-tolerant genotypes; because these five indices are strongly inter-correlated (r = 0.99–1.00), STI together with GMP is recommended as a parsimonious selection criterion. Cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into 13 clusters, with clusters 5 and 6 showing superior performance under stress. Genotypes RH-2049 and RH-2050 exhibited superior stability and adaptability, showing the highest values for the key productivity indices and maintaining high yields across environments, whereas Varuna, Radhika and Pusa Vijay were highly susceptible, with grain-yield reductions exceeding 40% (up to 42.4%). Overall, the study demonstrates substantial genetic variability for heat tolerance in mustard and highlights RH-2049, RH-2050 and related cluster members (RH-725, RH-2004, RH-2041, RH-1935) as potential donors for breeding climate-resilient cultivars. The findings provide a strong basis for developing climate-smart mustard breeding strategies to sustain oilseed production under rising temperatures.
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BibTeX
@article{choudhary2026comparative,
title = {{Comparative analysis of heat stress indices for selection of thermo-tolerant genotypes in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)}},
author = {Raju Ram Choudhary and Ram Avtar and Ritu Sharma and Manish Kumar and Rajdeep Jajoriya and Sumer Singh Punia and Shyam Singh Rajput and Manjeet Singh and Pawan Kumar and Babulal Dhaka and Mukesh Kumar Poonia},
journal = {Discover Plants},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s44372-026-00953-x},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-026-00953-x},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Comparative analysis of heat stress indices for selection of thermo-tolerant genotypes in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)
AU - Raju Ram Choudhary
AU - Ram Avtar
AU - Ritu Sharma
AU - Manish Kumar
AU - Rajdeep Jajoriya
AU - Sumer Singh Punia
AU - Shyam Singh Rajput
AU - Manjeet Singh
AU - Pawan Kumar
AU - Babulal Dhaka
AU - Mukesh Kumar Poonia
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
JO - Discover Plants
DO - 10.1007/s44372-026-00953-x
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-026-00953-x
AB - Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is a major oilseed crop in India, accounting for about 90% of the country’s Brassica oilseed area. Increasing heat stress, particularly terminal heat stress during flowering and grain filling, is a significant threat to mustard productivity. This study aimed to identify heat-tolerant mustard genotypes using yield-based stress tolerance indices. A total of 154 genotypes were evaluated under timely-sown (non-stress) and late-sown (terminal heat-stress) conditions over two Rabi seasons in an augmented block design. Grain yield data were used to compute eleven stress tolerance indices. Analysis of variance revealed significant genetic variability among genotypes for all indices. Correlation and principal component analyses identified STI, GMP, MP, HM and MRP as the most effective indices for selecting high-yielding, heat-tolerant genotypes; because these five indices are strongly inter-correlated (r = 0.99–1.00), STI together with GMP is recommended as a parsimonious selection criterion. Cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into 13 clusters, with clusters 5 and 6 showing superior performance under stress. Genotypes RH-2049 and RH-2050 exhibited superior stability and adaptability, showing the highest values for the key productivity indices and maintaining high yields across environments, whereas Varuna, Radhika and Pusa Vijay were highly susceptible, with grain-yield reductions exceeding 40% (up to 42.4%). Overall, the study demonstrates substantial genetic variability for heat tolerance in mustard and highlights RH-2049, RH-2050 and related cluster members (RH-725, RH-2004, RH-2041, RH-1935) as potential donors for breeding climate-resilient cultivars. The findings provide a strong basis for developing climate-smart mustard breeding strategies to sustain oilseed production under rising temperatures.
SN - 3005-1207
ER -