The true characterization of elite germplasm is of utmost importance for accelerating the crop breeding programme. The Indian dolichos bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) var. typicus Prain] has the potential to improve nutritional and food security. In the present investigation, a total of 21 genotypes of dolichos bean, comprising local collections mainly, along with one standard check (Kashi Sheetal) were evaluated in a complete randomized block design with three replications for two consecutive years, 2021–22 to 2022–23 for the perusal of the genetic variability. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among all the genotypes for all the characters. PCV and GCV estimates revealed very little influence of environment on the expression of traits under study. High heritability (>90%) estimates coupled with high genetic advance as a percent of the mean were observed for flower attributes, pod length, average weight of 10 pods, pod yield and protein content. The principal component analysis revealed that the first two components cumulatively accounted for more than 50% of total variability. The present investigation revealed that the genotypes, RLBDL-S-8, RLBDL-S-14 and RLBDL-S-4-5 were stable across the years and genotype RLBDL-S-8 exhibited the highest yield potential, which can be used effectively in the development of high yielding varieties of dolichos bean in the Bundelkhand region. The study also revealed the presence of wide genetic variability in the studied local accessions which is a prerequisite for the genetic improvement of crop plants. High heritability and genetic advancement indicated the scope of selection in the crop improvement.

Terminalia chebula Retz. is a multipurpose tree but the primary purpose of cultivating and raising this tree species is its fruits. Large sized fruits easily fetch higher prices in the national and global markets. The availability of superior germplasm is, however, restricted by its very low natural regeneration, poor germination capacity of the seeds, very little knowledge about its propagation techniques, long juvenile period for fruits production which is almost 15–20 years. The availability of superior germplasm and shortening of long juvenile period can be resolved by the adoption of various vegetative propagation techniques. In the present study, scions of T. chebula Retz. were grafted on three different rootstocks; T. chebula Retz., Terminalia bellirica Roxb. and Terminalia arjuna Bedd to standardize vegetative propagation techniques in T. chebula. The grafting and budding methods used were cleft grafting, side-veneer grafting and patch budding. The results revealed that out of all the propagation techniques evaluated under nursery conditions, cleft grafting was most promising. It showed better results on principal parameters like graft survival ratio (46.67) and graft take ratio (60.00). In case of rootstocks, T. arjuna performed well on most of the growth parameters. Hence, it is concluded that T. arjuna as a rootstock can be cleft grafted with T. chebula Retz. scion not only to obtain healthy plants with desired characteristics in a short time but also to conserve its germplasm.

Chickpea is a cool season, photothermal-sensitive crop, that is adversely affected by high temperatures (>35°C) and whose flowering is promoted by long-day conditions (>12 h). This prevents horizontal crop spread under a variety of agro-climatic conditions and the development of insensitive genotypes that perform well in all seasons. Therefore, a study was conducted to identify genotypes that are mature early, insensitive to photoperiod, high temperature and tolerant to drought stress. A set of 74 genotypes was evaluated under rainfed conditions in Kharif 2021 (off-season) to select eight promising early-maturing genotypes with high-yielding capacity. Then further investigations were conducted in five different seasons Late Kharif 2021, rabi 2021, summer 2022, early Kharif 2022 and Kharif 2022 to identify the genotypes with photothermo-insensitivity among the selected eight genotypes. With the exception of rabi 2021, each of these seasons were distinct from the chickpea's typical growing season. Among these eight, the stable genotypes which are performed better in all the seasons, especially in summer were considered, such as IPC 06-11, MNK-1, JG-14 and ICE 15654-A as a photothermo-insensitive, were able to flower and set pods with higher seed yield and, resulting in early maturity in a temperature range of 41.4/9.3°C with photoperiods of 13.1/10.9 h to reach in all seasons throughout the year. The heritability was more than 60%. Hence, these genotypes can be used as donor aids in the development of early maturing, drought stress tolerant and photothermo-insensitive chickpea.

Improvement in genetic gains of crops could be achieved by phenomics' characterization of agronomic, physiological and stress-related traits. Molecular and strategic breeding programmes require broad range of foreground and background phenotypic information for crop improvement. The current experiment was performed on 123 advanced soybean (Glycine max L.) genotypes including seven local lines belongs to four different maturity groups (000-lV) to estimate the endogenous potential of various yield-related traits. The experimental trial was repeated for two cropping seasons. Four traits out of six, yield per plant (YPP), number of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant and plant height (PH), showed maximum variation (CV%) that directly correlate with variability in the subjected population. PH, number of pods, 100-seed weight and YPP showed strong positive correlation in both years. Among the principal components, factors 1 and 2 showed maximum contribution in phenotypic variability ranges from 19 to 48.5% and 26 to 47.7% in the first and second years, respectively. Number of pods showed significant positive correlation with genotypes in both years. Dendrogram showed two distinct groups of soybean genotypes. Genetic variation and association among the accessions is indispensable for effective conservation and utilization of germplasm. Principal component analysis helps to identify the diverse genotypes that will be used as a parent for various breeding programmes. These phenotypic data will be used for detection of heat stress-related quantitative trait loci with genotypic data in genome-wide association studies experiments.

A total of 108 diverse sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) accessions were characterized for quantitative and qualitative fodder-related traits and zonate leaf spot (ZLS) (Gloeocercospora sorghi) disease during two successive wet seasons of 2019 and 2020 in augmented randomized block design. The Shannon's diversity index and analysis of variance showed the existence of significant variability among qualitative and quantitative traits. K-mean clustering showed strong relationship between green fodder yield (GFY) and other yield-contributing traits. The dendrogram constructed based on morphological traits classified accessions into four diverse groups and most of genotype fall under cluster II. The principal component analysis bi-plot analysis showed a total variation of 68.96%, where GFY, stem weight per plant, panicle length and dry matter yield (DMY) contributed significantly. From the experimental results, three sorghum genotypes viz., IG-03-424, IG-01-436 and IG-03-438 were identified as promising for higher GFY (808.66 g/plant) and DMY (238.0 g/plant), respectively. Further, based on disease reactions under natural condition, five genotypes viz., EC-512397, EC512393, EC512394, EC512399 and IG-02-437 were identified as potential donor for resistance to ZLS disease. These selected lines could be used as promising sources for high biomass and disease resistance in forage sorghum breeding programme.

To select a stable and best-performing cluster bean line over seasons, an experiment was carried out using five shortlisted advanced breeding lines of vegetable cluster bean in randomized block design with four replications in Kharif and Summer seasons of 2019–20 and 2020–21 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. Additive mean effect and multiplicative interaction analysis of variation indicated a significant genotype and environment (G × E) interaction for all the traits. A high environment effect of 33.73% of the total sum of squares was observed for the trait pods per cluster followed by yield per hectare, single pod weight, pods per plant and clusters per plant. The first two interactive principal component axes (IPCA) cumulatively contributed 87.9, 97.3, 94.6, 98.6 and 85.6% variations for yield per hectare, number of clusters per plant, pods per plant, pods per cluster and single pod weight, respectively, leaving a small but significant amount of variation in the third IPCA. A mean versus weighted average of absolute score (WAAS) biplot indicated that genotype IIHRCB 26-2-1 is stable and best for the trait clusters per plant (>20 clusters/plant) while, IIHRCB 22-1-1 is superior and stable (WAAS mean nearly 0.00) for pods per cluster with >5 pods/cluster, pods per plant with >90 pods/plant, single pod weight with >3.0 g and yield per hectare around 24 t/ha. For all the environments, genotype IIHRCB 22-1-1 was found ‘all-time winner’ for yield per hectare and single pod weight. Based on multitrait stability index, IIHRCB 22-1-1 was found the best performer and the most stable genotype.

Water deficit is one of the most important abiotic stresses constraining crop production in rapeseed. Understanding the mechanisms of adaptation to this stress is essential for the development and production of drought-tolerant genotypes. For this reason, this research study aims to investigate the importance of genetic diversity in identifying genotypes with a high degree of drought tolerance through assessing effectiveness of inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers on 14 genotypes of rapeseed in a factorial design. Morphological and physiological characteristics were studied after the early stages of growth; in order to evaluate the genetic diversity among genotypes, 18 different ISSR markers were used. A total of 106 clear and scalable loci were amplified, of which 60 bands (56.6%) were polymorphic. The highest polymorphism information content belonged to marker number 9 with the amount of 0.365 (85.7%). Gene variation ranged from 0.081 to 0.365 and the rapeseed genotypes were divided into three groups by cluster analysis (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean method). The analysis of molecular variance showed that 70% of the total variation was observed within populations and 30% of this variation occurred among populations. In addition, t-test was used for comparing oil content percentage among different genotypes in control and stress levels. Adriana had the highest amount of seed oil with 36.47%, whereas Karaj 2 had the lowest amount with 27.28 and Cooper had the highest decrease in oil content percentage under stress conditions. Overall, the genotypes Likord, Hyola 401 and Sarigol 32 were identified as the most drought-tolerant.

The objective of the research was to assess diversity among 50 rice genotypes for ratooning and perennation which refers to ability of a plant to regrow from stubble remaining after harvesting. Results showed that 30 genotypes exhibited different degree of ratoon production and ratoon yield. Diversity analysis revealed that all the ratooning genotypes could be assigned to ten clusters. Clusters III (Binadhan-11 and Sayjihari) and VI (IR-64, DRR-44) were the best performing for ratoon yield. Maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between genotypes falling under clusters III and X followed by genotypes under clusters III and II indicating wider genetic diversity between these genotypes. Thus, these genotypes may be useful for future breeding to develop superior varieties with respect to ratooning ability and ratoon yield.