Abstract
Twenty-five genotypes of Brassica juncea (l.), Czern and Coss, were evaluated on a sandy loam soil for growth pattern, partitioning of dry matter, and harvest index. In general, the rate of shoot growth was low from seeding to full bloom but was high between full bloom and completion of pod formation, and declined thereafter till maturity. At harvest, there was significant genotypic variability in the dry weight of root, leaf, stem, grain and harvest index among the genotypes of B. juncea. The average biomass of roots, stems, leaves and grains of all genotypes constituted 9.9, 58.2, 19.1, and 12.8% of the total plant biomass. The mean harvest index was 22.6, 16.9, and 14.9% calculated on the basis of weight stem, stem plus leaves, and roots plus stem plus leaves, respectively. Among different genotypes of brassica, the maximum values of dry weight in roots, leaves and total biomass were recorded in cv. RLM 29/25; whereas maximum values of dry weight in stems and grains were recorded in cvs. RC 1316 and RC 1200 (stems), and RLM 514 (grains). The cvs. RLM 514 and RH 785 had higher grain yield and harvest index and greater mobilization of assimilates from vegetative parts to grains. The mobilization of the stem reserves to grains has been shown to improve further the productivity of oil seed brassicas in dry land environments, and the importance of leaves and roots in the estimation of harvest index has been demonstrated
