~ 517 ~ The Pharma Innovation Journal 2018; 7(8): 517-525 ISSN (E): 2277- 7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.03 TPI 2018; 7(8): 517-525 © 2018 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 05-06-2018 Accepted: 10-07-2018 Khushboo Chandra Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samatipur, Bihar, India Anil Pandey Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samatipur, Bihar, India SB Mishra Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samatipur, Bihar, India Kavita Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samatipur, Bihar, India Correspondence Khushboo Chandra Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samatipur, Bihar, India Genetic variability of physiological parameters among Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss) genotypes under non-irrigated and irrigated condition Khushboo Chandra, Anil Pandey, SB Mishra and Kavita Abstract Increasing pace towards water crisis results in demand of screening of drought tolerant genotypes which were suitable for both non-irrigated as well as in irrigated condition. Keeping consideration over this experiment was designed to study genetic variability and heritability under non- irrigated and irrigated condition on some physiological and quality traits an experiment on Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss), was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RBCD) accommodating 20 genotypes, from various Rapeseed & Mustard centres located across country, randomly in three replications during Rabi 2016-17, one subjected to a drought regime inside the Rainout shelter under non- irrigated condition which was also devoid of rainfall and another one provided with normal irrigated field condition in Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur. Analysis of variance for the studied traits revealed considerably exploitable variability. Out of 20 genotypes under both non-irrigated as well as irrigated condition, Rajendra Suphalam showed tolerance towards water stressed condition and perform well in terms of productivity in irrigated situation for traits namely Tap Root Length, Root Volume, Root Mass, Relative Water Content, Leaf Membrane Stability Index, Excised Leaf Water Loss, Chlorophyll Content, Catalase Activity, Peroxidase Activity, Proline Accumulation, Relative Growth Rate, Leaf Area Index, Specific Leaf Weight, Drought Tolerance Index, Stress Intensity, Oil Yield, Grain Yield/Plot. Under NI condition high heritability coupled with high GAM for traits namely, RL, RGR, LAI, LMSI, RWC, ELWL; RM only in irrigated and RV, SLW, CA under both conditions which were indicative of preponderance of additive gene action for expression of these traits, hence are acquiescent for simple selection. Keywords: Brassica juncea L., drought tolerance index, stress intensity, leaf area, deficit irrigation Introduction Drought is the most solemn problem for global agriculture, roughly affecting 40% of the world’s land area. Global climate change is predicted to lead to extreme temperatures and severe prolonged drought in some parts of the world, which will have a dramatic impact on crop growth and productivity (Trenberth et al. 2014) [43] . The average annual yield loss of crops due to drought in the world is about 17 percent that can increase to more than 70 percent a year. Currently, around 7% of the world's population lives in areas that suffer from water shortage and this could increase to 67 percent by 2050. Under this water scarce situation growing population too have to meet their food demands. Due to scarcity of water resources, deficit irrigation is used as an efficient option for increasing productivity under water shortage. Another strategy is using plant genetic engineering and breeding to develop drought-tolerant genotypes is mainly due to the quantitative nature of stress tolerance (Ehsani and Khaledi et al, 2004) [16] . Clarke et al., (1984) [13] opined that selection for yield under dry condition should alone be more productive avenue for improvement of drought resistance until more rapid and effective screening procedures could be developed. DSI values and seed yield under drought conditions as a selection criterion in Indian mustard (Singh and Choudhary, 2003) [39] . Availability of genetic variability for the component characters is a major asset for initiating a fruitful crop improvement programme. A purposeful management of variability is a pre- requisite before embarking on any breeding method. For successful utilization of genetic variability crop breeders emphatically search for the traits of importance and subsequently to incorporate it genetically into an usable variety.