PLANT CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Efficacy of Varied Liquid Microbial Formulations on the Growth and Yield Performance of Mulberry (Morus indica L.)

2026-08-20T12:23:23+00:00

Optimising fertiliser application effectively boosts mulberry yields without degrading soil quality in high-density sericulture systems. A field experiment was conducted during 2021–22 and 2022–23 in farmers' fields at Gaddekannuru village, Kolar Taluk, Karnataka, by ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kolar, to evaluate the efficacy of different liquid microbial formulations on growth, yield, leaf quality, cocoon productivity, and the economics of mulberry (Morus indica L.). The treatments included the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF) and farmyard manure (FYM) alone (T₁), RDF + Liquid Microbial Consortia (T₂), RDF + Arka Microbial Consortia (T₃), and RDF + Waste Decomposer Solution (T₄), with the microbial formulations applied through drip irrigation at 8 and 25 days after pruning. Pooled data from two consecutive years revealed significant differences among the treatments. Among the treatments, T₂ (RDF + Liquid Microbial Consortia) recorded the highest number of branches (15.40 per plant), leaves (26.36 per branch), leaf yield (1.302 kg per plant and 120.51 q per ha per crop), and cocoon yield (457.96 kg per ha). It also produced superior leaf quality, with the highest leaf moisture content (77.50%), moisture retention capacity (71.90%), total chlorophyll (45.80%), protein (25.10%), and carbohydrate content (16.65%). Economic analysis indicated that T₂ generated the highest gross return (183,184 per ha), net return (132,734 per ha), and benefit–cost ratio (3.63), followed by T₃ (RDF + Arka Microbial Consortia). The results revealed that combining liquid biofertilisers with standard nutrient recommendations significantly improved mulberry biomass, leaf nutritive value, silkworm cocoon output, and net farm profits. The application of liquid microbial consortia through drip irrigation represents a sustainable nutrient-management approach that enhances fertiliser-use efficiency, reduces dependence on chemical fertilisers, and promotes environmentally sustainable sericulture.

Influence of Various Levels of IBA and NAA on Shoot Development and Survival of Stem Cuttings in Dragon Fruit

2026-08-20T12:18:47+00:00

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis) is a high-value, drought-tolerant cactus fruit whose commercial expansion in India is presently constrained by the poor and inconsistent availability of quality planting material. Since the crop is propagated almost entirely through stem cuttings, a field-cum-nursery experiment was conducted during 2025–26 at the Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (U.P.), to determine a reliable auxin schedule for rooting. Thirteen treatments, comprising three levels each of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA at 1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA at 100, 200 and 300 ppm), six IBA × NAA combinations, and an untreated control, were laid out in a Randomised Block Design with three replications. Cuttings treated with IBA at 3000 ppm consistently gave the quickest and most vigorous response, with root initiation in 16.53 days and sprouting in 9.39 days, compared with 22.90 and 17.33 days, respectively, in the control. The same treatment produced the highest rooting (53.20% at 60 days after planting), the longest roots (20.13 cm) and greatest root number (40.95) at 90 days, the tallest shoots (14.20 cm), and the best survival of rooted cuttings (90.12%), and remained statistically on par with IBA at 2000 and 1000 ppm across most parameters. NAA alone was distinctly less effective than IBA, and the IBA + NAA combinations did not improve upon IBA used alone. On the basis of these results, a quick-dip treatment with IBA at 3000 ppm (or, where cost is a constraint, 1000–2000 ppm) can be recommended for the commercial nursery propagation of dragon fruit through stem cuttings.

Diversity and Molecular Characterization of Fungal Pathogens Associated with Paddy in the Cauvery Delta Region

2026-08-19T12:35:39+00:00

Fungal diseases severely threaten rice productivity and food security across the Cauvery Delta. This study investigated the prevalence, morphological variation, pathogenicity, and molecular identities of three primary fungal pathogens Bipolaris oryzae, Pyricularia oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani collected across Tamil Nadu and Karaikal U.T. Field surveys revealed wide spatial variation in disease intensity, with maximum percent disease index (PDI) recorded for sheath blight (54.00% in Nannilam), blast (42.34% in Aduthurai) and brown spot (30.40% in Pattukkottai). In vitro characterisation of ten isolates per species demonstrated notable diversity in mycelial growth rates, colony pigmentation, conidial features, and sclerotial formation. Controlled greenhouse evaluations on susceptible rice cultivar BPT-5204 confirmed varying degrees of virulence among isolates, identifying Bo₈ (mean PDI 28.95%), Pg₇ (mean PDI 38.99%) and Rs₆ (mean PDI 36.85%) as the most aggressive pathotypes for brown spot, blast, and sheath blight, respectively. PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA-ITS) region definitively confirmed species identities for the hyper-virulent isolates: B. oryzae Bo₈ (558 bp; ON556554), P. oryzae Pg₇ (541 bp; ON556555) and R. solani Rs₆ (514 bp; ON556551). These characterised pathotypes provide critical reference strains for regional resistance breeding and targeted disease management strategies.

Integrating Multi-omics and Artificial Intelligence for Next-generation Crop Improvement: Advances, Constraints and Future Directions

2026-08-19T12:29:18+00:00

Crop improvement increasingly depends on extracting useful breeding signals from data that span DNA sequence variation, gene regulation, molecular phenotypes, high-throughput field measurements and environmental exposure. Multi-omics can connect genotype to phenotype through intermediate biological layers, while artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning methods can model nonlinear, high-dimensional relationships that are difficult to represent with conventional approaches. Yet greater data volume and model complexity do not automatically translate into greater genetic gain. This critical narrative review evaluates how genomics, pangenomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, phenomics and environmental covariates are being integrated with statistical learning, machine learning and deep learning for crop improvement. Literature was selected from accessible scholarly databases and indexes through 13 June 2026, with emphasis on peer-reviewed studies that permit evaluation of predictive value, biological interpretation and breeding relevance. The evidence is strongest where additional modalities capture non-redundant information that is biologically proximal to the target trait or environment, as demonstrated in hybrid prediction, stress adaptation, grain-quality analysis and environment-aware genomic prediction. Conversely, classical genomic best linear unbiased prediction and related models remain competitive in many settings, particularly when sample size is modest, relationships among individuals dominate prediction, or nonlinear signal is weak. Reported AI advantages are sensitive to validation design, relatedness between training and test sets, tissue and developmental stage, environmental transfer, missing modalities and hyperparameter tuning. Pangenomes, single-cell regulatory maps and interpretable multimodal models broaden the biological search space, but evidence for routine breeding utility remains less mature than their mechanistic promise. The most defensible path forward is therefore not unrestricted model escalation, but decision-focused integration: biologically informed feature representation, prospective multi-environment validation, explicit uncertainty, robust missing-data handling and functional validation of discovered mechanisms. Multi-omics and AI are most likely to accelerate crop improvement when evaluated against breeding decisions and realised genetic gain rather than prediction accuracy alone.

Combining Ability Analysis for Seed Yield and Associated Traits in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.)

2026-08-14T14:04:45+00:00

Indian mustard belongs to the family Brassicaceae and the genus Brassica and is a major oilseed crop cultivated in India. Worldwide, it is the third-ranked oilseed crop in terms of consumption after palm oil and soybean. However, productivity remains below its potential because of various biotic and abiotic stressors coupled with a narrow genetic base, highlighting the need to broaden the genetic base and exploit heterosis to develop superior cultivars. Therefore, in the present study, general and specific combining ability analyses were conducted to assess the combining abilities of the parents and the performance of hybrids at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Morena, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agricultural University, Gwalior, M. P., India, during Rabi 2026. During the present investigation, 16 yield-attributing traits were evaluated using 10 lines, 3 testers, and their thirty F1 hybrids developed through a line × tester mating design to estimate the magnitude and direction of combining abilities. Among the lines and testers, GCA effects showed that parents viz., Pusa Bold, Rohini, Varuna, and Vardhan were good general combiners because they exhibited desirable negative and highly significant GCA effects for days to 50% flowering, days to siliquae initiation, and plant height. However, Pusa Bold was recognized as a good general combiner because it displayed positive and highly significant GCA effects for the maximum number of quantitative traits, including seed yield per plant and harvest index. The cross-combination Pusa Jagannath × PAB-2014-4 had the highest SCA effect for seed yield per plant, biological yield, number of siliquae per plant and number of primary branches per plant, while Maya × PAB-2014-8 showed high SCA effects for seed yield per plant, biological yield and number of siliquae on the main raceme.

Rapid Micropropagation Using Nodal Explants of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell: An Endangered Medicinal Plant

2026-08-14T13:31:25+00:00

This study evaluated an in vitro micropropagation protocol for Bacopa monnieri using nodal explants. Healthy nodal segments were collected from nursery-grown plants, surface sterilised, and cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. The sterilisation sequence consisted of 1% Bavistin for 10 min, 70% ethanol for 30 s, and 0.01% mercuric chloride for 5 min, followed by repeated rinsing with sterile distilled water. For shoot initiation, nodal explants were cultured on MS medium containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine. Among the tested treatments, MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/L BAP showed the strongest shoot initiation response, with bud break observed within 7–10 days. For shoot multiplication, the best response was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L NAA. Elongated shoots were transferred to half-strength MS medium containing IBA at 0.1–0.4 mg/L for root induction, and the highest rooting response was observed at 0.4 mg/L IBA. Rooted plantlets were subsequently acclimatised through primary and secondary hardening before transfer to soil conditions. The study indicates that nodal explants can be used for rapid in vitro propagation of B. monnieri, although further validation with additional replication and statistical analysis is required. All experiments were conducted in triplicate, and the data were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis.

Multivariate Characterization and Nutritional Profiling of Advanced Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Breeding Lines Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

2026-08-13T12:32:41+00:00

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a leguminous crop known for its high nutritional potential and its capacity to address prevalent nutrient deficiencies through breeding and biofortification strategies. The current study assessed the mineral composition of 97 advanced soybean breeding lines using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) to measure two macronutrients - calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) - and four micronutrients - iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn). The observations were subjected to correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering, and a nutritional index was calculated. Considerable differences were observed in mineral distribution profiles among the genotypes and among the minerals. Calcium showed the highest variability, while magnesium displayed more consistent accumulation. A weak to moderate positive relationship was detected among several micronutrients, especially Fe–Zn, Fe–Cu and Fe–Mn, suggesting potential for simultaneous enhancement of multiple nutritional traits in the breeding programmes. PCA and hierarchical clustering categorised the genotypes into distinct groups based on their mineral composition, confirming noticeable diversity within the breeding material. PS 26 had high calcium content, PS 1505 showed high iron content, PS 1733 had high magnesium content and NRC 142 had high copper content according to these observations. The nutritional index highlighted PS 1670, PS 1521, PS 1734, EC 69729 and NRC 142 as outstanding genotypes with balanced and above-average levels of overall mineral composition as indicated by the nutritional index. These results demonstrate informative genetic diversity in seed mineral content and identify promising donor lines for soybean biofortification and nutrient enhancement. The study offers essential insights for the development of mineral-rich soybean cultivars aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and improving human nutrition.

Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis of Yield and Quality Traits in Early and Mid-late Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. Complex)

2026-08-12T13:30:37+00:00

The genetic improvement of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. complex) for cane and sugar yield relies heavily on understanding the intricate associations among yield-attributing traits and partitioning their causal direct and indirect effects. This study evaluated 30 diverse sugarcane genotypes (27 advanced generation clones and 3 commercial standards) using a randomised block design with three replications to estimate phenotypic and genotypic correlations, alongside path coefficients, for seventeen morphological and biochemical quality traits. Correlation studies revealed that cane yield had a significant and positive association with CCS (t/ha) followed by single cane weight, stalk length, number of millable canes at harvest and Brix % at 8^th month. Path analysis revealed that the characters, viz., Pol % at 8^th month, CCS % at 10^th month, CCS (t/ha), CCS % at 8^th month, Brix % at 10^th month, single cane weight, number of millable canes at harvest, number of tillers at 120 DAP and stalk length recorded positive direct effects on the dependent variable, i.e. cane yield, while the other traits also showed indirect positive effects on cane yield through these characters, indicating that these characters are major contributing traits to cane yield in sugarcane. Sugarcane clones viz., 15-1805, 16-266 and 16-123 were significantly or numerically superior to the best check Co-0238 for both cane yield and quality attributes. These clones require further testing in multi-locational trials to sustain sugarcane productivity.

CRISPR and Artificial Intelligence in Crop Improvement: A Critical Synthesis for Precision Plant Breeding

2026-08-10T12:45:03+00:00

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based genome editing and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly presented as a unified route to precision plant breeding. Their convergence is scientifically plausible but unevenly demonstrated. CRISPR systems can create targeted sequence changes, whereas AI can prioritise candidate genes, integrate genomic and phenomic data, optimise guide RNAs and editors, predict editing outcomes, and support iterative genotype-to-phenotype learning. This critical narrative review evaluates the evidence linking these capabilities across the crop-improvement pipeline. Literature published from 1 January 2012 to 5 June 2026 was selected through transparent searches of accessible scholarly indexes and bibliographic resources, followed by citation tracking, metadata verification and thematic appraisal. Evidence is strongest for CRISPR-mediated improvement of discrete, biologically well-characterised traits, including disease resistance, quality attributes, plant architecture and selected stress responses. AI has also achieved useful performance in phenotyping, genomic prediction and CRISPR design, but superiority over conventional statistical or rule-based approaches is not consistent across datasets, species or prediction tasks. Direct evidence for fully integrated, AI-guided CRISPR breeding programmes that deliver stable field performance remains limited. Major constraints include uncertain causal target identification, small and non-representative training datasets, poor transferability across genetic backgrounds, polyploidy, genotype-by-environment interaction, transformation and regeneration bottlenecks, incomplete detection of unintended outcomes, and heterogeneous regulation. The most defensible interpretation is therefore that AI and CRISPR are complementary components of an emerging design-build-test-learn framework rather than a mature autonomous breeding platform. Progress will depend on plant-specific benchmark datasets, prospective validation, multi-environment field trials, interoperable data standards, equitable access to transformation and computational infrastructure, and governance focused on the properties and evidence of resulting products. Their integration can accelerate precision breeding, but biological causality, experimental validation and breeding judgement remain indispensable.

Application of Indole-3-acetic Acid (IAA), Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) for Enhancing Clonal Propagation of Fig (Ficus carica L.)

2026-08-08T11:34:54+00:00

The present study entitled “Application of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) for Enhancing Clonal Propagation of Fig fruit (Ficus carica L.)” was conducted during 2022–2023 at a farmer’s nursery in Erode District, Tamil Nadu, to evaluate the influence of experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD) with ten treatments and three replications, using 450 cuttings of the drought-tolerant ‘Afghan’ cultivar. Treatments included three concentrations each of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), along with an untreated control. The basal ends of the cuttings were subjected to a 30-second quick dip in the respective plant growth regulator solutions, and rooting was carried out under mist-chamber conditions. Data were statistically analysed using standard methods and critical differences were determined at the 5% level of significance. The highest values were recorded with IBA @ 3500 ppm (T3), which showed the earliest sprouting (10.70 days), maximum shoot length (21.43 cm), fresh shoot weight (46.44 g), dry shoot weight (35.63 g), shoot diameter (12.98 mm), leaf number (10.59), leaf dimensions (length 15.56 cm, width 13.28 cm) and survival rate (87.88%). The findings suggest that IBA at 3500 ppm is optimal for efficient clonal propagation of fig hardwood cuttings, as the enhanced growth and survival of treated cuttings may be attributed to auxin-mediated stimulation of physiological processes, including root initiation, cell elongation and nutrient uptake.

Morphological Characterization of Genotypes for Seed Yield and Its Component Traits of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

2026-08-07T09:47:23+00:00

The present investigation evaluated fifteen Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) genotypes for seed yield and associated component traits during the Rabi season of 2025-26 at the Agricultural Research Farm, Prof. Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) University, Naini, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with three replications. Eleven quantitative traits were recorded and analysed for variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation and path coefficient effects. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among genotypes for most traits, indicating the presence of exploitable genetic variability. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for the number of siliquae per plant, number of siliquae per shoot and number of seeds per plant. Broad-sense heritability was highest for the number of siliquae per plant, number of siliquae per shoot and plant height at 90 DAS, and these traits also showed high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean. Seed yield per plot showed strong positive genotypic associations with the number of siliquae per shoot, number of seeds per siliqua and number of seeds per plant. Path coefficient analysis indicated that plant height at 90 DAS, number of siliquae per shoot and number of siliquae per plant were important contributors to seed yield at the genotypic level. The findings indicate that these traits may support selection for yield improvement in Indian mustard under the studied conditions.

Methodology of Nutritional and Yield Evaluation of Advanced Potato Clones for Eastern Indo-gangetic Plains of India

2026-08-06T13:21:58+00:00

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a modified stem crop of global significance and is recognised as one of the most important vegetable commodities worldwide. This study evaluated ten advanced potato clones (PS/19-02, PS/19-04, PS/19-12, PS/19-24, PS/19-26, PS/19-31, PS/19-41, PS/19-43, PS/19-44, and PS/19-50), together with five control varieties (Kufri Lohit, Kufri Manik, Kufri Lalit, Kufri Lalima, and Kufri Neelkanth) for yield, quality and nutritional traits relevant to breeding red-skinned varieties suitable for the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Field experiments were conducted at the ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Regional Centre, Patna, Bihar, and laboratory analyses were conducted at ICAR-CPRI, Shimla, during 2023–2024 and 2024–2025. The trials were laid out in a Randomised Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Potato tubers were planted on ridges at a spacing of 20 cm (plant-to-plant) × 60 cm (row-to-row) and a depth of 4–5 cm. Two crop durations, 75 and 90 days were conducted. The measured parameters included total tuber yield (t/ha), marketable tuber yield (t/ha), dry matter content (%) and nutritional composition (Fe, Zn, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins). Superior performance was observed in clone PS/19-50, which recorded a marketable tuber yield of 32.51 t/ha at 75 days and in PS/19-41, which achieved 36.88 t/ha at 90 days. These two clones exhibited low storage losses under ambient conditions (7.37% for PS/19-50 and 17.4% for PS/19-41). Nutritional profiling revealed high mineral contents with Fe at 34.65 ppm in PS/19-24 and Zn at 25.31 ppm in PS/19-50. Key selection traits included ovoid-to-round tuber shape, red skin colour, pigmented flesh ranging from dark to light red, shallow eyes, and desirable organoleptic qualities. The primary objective was to assess the yield and nutritional performance of advanced potato clones to develop red-skinned varieties adapted to the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of India.

Assessment of Combining Ability and Gene Action for Yield and Yield-contributing Traits in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

2026-08-06T13:15:18+00:00

Aims: To evaluate combining ability, determine the nature of gene action governing yield and yield-contributing traits, and identify superior parents and promising hybrid combinations in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

Study Design: Line × tester mating design.

Place and Duration of Study: Oilseeds Research Station, Latur, Maharashtra, India, during kharif 2025 (hybrid development) and rabi 2025–26 (field evaluation).

Methodology: Six cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) lines and seven restorer lines were crossed in a line × tester mating design to generate 42 hybrids. The resulting hybrids, together with their 13 parents and three standard checks, were evaluated in a randomised block design with two replications for ten agro-morphological and quality traits. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, line × tester analysis to estimate general and specific combining ability, and assessment of gene action following Kempthorne (1957).

Results: Significant variation was observed among the 58 genotypes for all ten traits studied, indicating sufficient genetic variability for effective selection and hybrid development. Combining ability analysis revealed significant GCA and SCA effects for most traits, with SCA variance exceeding GCA variance and indicating the predominance of non-additive gene action. CMS-249A and CMS-47A exhibited desirable GCA effects for several yield-related traits, whereas EC-601924 and EC-601751 were superior restorers. The hybrid combinations DSP-11A × EC-601924, CMS-249A × RHAGPR-3, and CMS-10A × EC-601751 expressed high SCA effects together with desirable performance for yield and related traits, indicating their suitability for hybrid breeding.

Conclusion: Both additive and non-additive genetic effects contributed to the inheritance of yield and yield-contributing traits, although non-additive gene action was predominant. The identified superior parents and hybrids may be utilised in sunflower hybrid-breeding programmes to develop high-yielding hybrids.

Evaluation of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Germplasm for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits

2026-08-05T13:11:29+00:00

The present study was conducted using different chickpea genotypes during the Rabi 2022–23 season at the Field Experimentation Centre, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Uttar Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with three replications to estimate genetic variability parameters and conduct correlation and path analyses for thirteen quantitative traits. Analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences among the genotypes at the 1% probability level for all traits. Phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were higher than genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) for all traits, indicating environmental influence. Most traits exhibited high heritability, except days to 50% flowering. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean was observed for the number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, biological yield per plant, seed index and harvest index. Correlation and path coefficient analyses indicated that plant height, days to maturity, number of seeds per pod, biological yield per plant, seed index and harvest index had positive direct relationships with seed yield per plant. These findings indicate that effective selection based on these traits may improve chickpea seed yield.

Methodological Approaches to Hybridisation and Selection in the Initial Generations of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Clones

2026-08-05T11:23:55+00:00

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) breeding is complicated by tetraploidy, high heterozygosity, and clonal propagation, making systematic selection across early generations essential. This study evaluated hybridisation and stage-wise clonal selection for developing red-skinned, medium-maturing table potato cultivars suitable for the eastern plains of India during 2020–21 and 2021–22. Female parents were selected for early maturity, early bulking, tuber skin and flesh colour, shape, and eye depth, whereas male parents were selected for plant type, tuber colour, and pollen viability. Hybridisation was conducted at ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute facilities in Patna and Shimla, and progenies were evaluated at Patna. In total, 83,440 and 109,603 true potato seeds from 84 and 26 successful crosses, respectively, were sown, and 57,758 and 52,333 seedlings were transplanted. Selection based on tuber colour, shape, flesh colour, eye depth, yield, and disease reaction retained 1,619 and 1,660 F₁ clones in the respective years. Subsequent evaluation retained 169 and 113 F₁C₁ cultures, 79 and 52 F₁C₂ cultures, and 28 and 17 F₁C₃ cultures. Selected F₁C₃ clones were advanced for preliminary yield evaluation. The results demonstrate a progressive, trait-based selection procedure for reducing large seedling populations to manageable clonal sets. Replicated, multi-location, and multi-year testing remains necessary to confirm the yield stability and adaptation of the advanced clones.

Combining Ability and Gene Action for Yield and Component Traits in Green Gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] Using Line × Tester Analysis

2026-08-04T12:27:36+00:00

Background: Green gram (Vigna radiata L.) is an important short-duration pulse crop, and its improvement requires reliable information on parental combining ability and the gene action governing yield-related traits.

Aims: The study aims to assess combining ability and gene action for agronomic traits using a line × tester mating design in green gram (Vigna radiata L.).

Study Design: Line × tester mating design.

Place and Duration of Study: Experimental Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Latur, during the summer season of 2025–26.

Methodology: A line × tester mating framework comprising three female lines (TAKM-140, PANT-M-5 and SML-668), seven male testers (BMB-2302, BMB-2311, BMB-2314, BMB-2315, BPMR-32, BPMR-48 and BPMR-93) and one standard check variety (BM-2003-2) was used to develop 21 cross combinations. The 21 hybrids, their ten parents and the check variety were evaluated. Field observations were recorded for ten quantitative traits: days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight (g) and seed yield per plant (g).

Results: Combining ability analysis identified PANT-M-5 and testers BMB-2314, BMB-2315 and BPMR-32 as effective general combiners for seed yield and earliness. The crosses TAKM-140 × BMB-2302, PANT-M-5 × BPMR-32 and SML-668 × BMB-2311 showed significant positive specific combining ability (SCA) effects for seed yield per plant. Gene action analysis indicated that specific combining ability variance (\(σ^2_{SCA}\)) exceeded general combining ability variance (\(σ^2_{GCA}\)) for all evaluated traits. Furthermore, the variance ratio (\(σ^2_{SCA}\)/\(σ^2_{GCA}\)) was less than unity for all traits.

Conclusion: The findings indicated a predominance of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of the evaluated agronomic traits. Breeding approaches such as biparental mating or recurrent selection in early segregating generations may therefore be used to exploit this non-additive variance for crop improvement.

Genetic Analysis of Seed Yield and Component Traits through Line × Tester Analysis in Linseed

2026-08-04T12:20:25+00:00

Aims: The study aims to identify the best general and specific combiners for seed yield and associated traits, and to determine the nature of gene action governing these traits in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) through a Line × Tester analysis.

Study Design: Line × Tester mating design.

Place and Duration of Study: Oilseeds Research Station, Latur, under Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani, Maharashtra, India, during the 2025–26 rabi season.

Methodology: Forty-two F₁ hybrids developed using seven lines and six testers, together with their parents and a standard check, were evaluated for ten quantitative traits. Combining ability analysis was performed to estimate general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), and the nature of gene action.

Results: Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the experimental genotypes for all ten traits, indicating substantial genetic variability. Significant variation due to lines, testers, and line × tester interactions suggested the involvement of both additive and non-additive gene effects. RLC-206 and NL-421 were identified as good general combiners, whereas SLS-145 was the best general combiner among the testers for seed yield. The crosses RLC-148 × RLC-198, RLC-206 × RLC-213, and RL-18123 × SLS-156 exhibited significant positive SCA effects for seed yield per plant. For all traits, SCA variance exceeded GCA variance, indicating the predominance of non-additive gene action.

Conclusion: The superior parents and cross combinations identified in the present investigation represent valuable genetic resources for developing high-yielding linseed cultivars. The predominance of non-additive gene action for all the traits studied suggests that breeding approaches such as heterosis breeding, recurrent selection, or biparental mating followed by selection may be effective for improving seed yield and its component traits in linseed.

Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Colletotrichum siamense Causing Onion Twister Disease in India

2026-08-04T12:13:13+00:00

Onion twister disease, caused by diverse Colletotrichum species worldwide, is a major constraint on onion production and can lead to severe yield and post-harvest losses. Accurate identification within this diverse genus is essential for determining the pathogen associated with the disease in India. In the present study, four fungal isolates (Cs-1, Cs-2, Cs-3, and Cs-4) were obtained from symptomatic onion tissues and characterised using morphological, cultural, pathogenic, and molecular approaches. Morpho-cultural evaluation revealed circular colonies with floccose to velvety textures and colours ranging from creamy white to light grey; mean mycelial growth rates ranged from 8.17 ± 0.65 to 18.00 ± 0.54 mm day-1. Conidia were hyaline, unicellular, guttulate, and cylindrical to oblong, and the appressoria were globose to clavate. Molecular characterisation targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region yielded approximately 550-bp amplicons with 97.54-100% sequence identity to Colletotrichum siamense. Neighbour-Joining phylogenetic analysis placed all isolates within the C. siamense clade. Pathogenicity tests produced symptoms characteristic of twister disease, including anthracnose lesions, leaf twisting, abnormal neck elongation, dieback, and plant death. Anthracnose lesions appeared 3-10 days after inoculation (DAI), followed by leaf twisting at 5-12 DAI. Across isolates, disease incidence ranged from 40% to 100%, disease severity from 33.33% to 79.36%, and leaf twisting from 10% to 50%. Re-isolation from symptomatic tissues fulfilled Koch's postulates. These findings support C. siamense as a causal agent of onion twister disease in India. Additional protein-coding loci may be required as secondary barcodes for precise species identification within the C. gloeosporioides species complex.

Identification of Polymorphic SSR Markers for Rapid Hybridity Confirmation and Genetic Purity Assessment of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Hybrid KBSH-78

2026-08-03T12:08:14+00:00

Genetic purity is essential for maintaining the identity, uniformity, and performance of commercial sunflower hybrids. This study identified polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for rapid hybridity confirmation and genetic purity assessment of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid KBSH-78 and its parental lines, CMS-78A and RHA-78R. Genomic DNA was isolated from young leaf tissues, and twenty sunflower-specific SSR primer pairs were screened using polymerase chain reaction amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis. Eighteen primer pairs generated monomorphic amplification profiles, whereas HA3640 and HA4011 produced clear and reproducible polymorphic patterns that differentiated the two parental lines. HA3640 amplified a 200 bp allele in the seed parent and a 150 bp allele in the pollen parent. HA4011 amplified a 150 bp allele in the seed parent and a 100 bp allele in the pollen parent. Both parent-specific alleles were simultaneously detected in KBSH-78, confirming its hybridity. Each informative marker recorded a polymorphic information content value of 0.375. The results indicate that HA3640 and HA4011 can serve as diagnostic markers for the molecular authentication of KBSH-78 and its parental lines. These SSR markers provide a rapid, reproducible, and environment-independent approach that may complement conventional grow-out testing in routine genetic purity assessment, seed certification, varietal authentication, and quality assurance programmes for commercial sunflower hybrid seed production.

Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield, Yield Attributing and Oil Content Traits in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Germplasm

2026-08-03T11:38:17+00:00

The present study assessed character association and the direct and indirect effects of yield-attributing traits on seed yield in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm. Fifty-one sesame genotypes, including three standard checks, were evaluated during the kharif season of 2024 using a randomised block design with three replications. Observations were recorded for twelve quantitative traits, comprising days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, cluster length, number of seeds per cluster, test seed weight, biological yield per plant, harvest index, seed yield per plant, and oil content. Correlation analysis showed that seed yield per plant was positively associated with harvest index, biological yield per plant, number of clusters per plant, plant height, test seed weight, and number of seeds per cluster. Days to 50% flowering and days to maturity showed negative associations with several yield-related traits, indicating the possible usefulness of early-flowering and early-maturing genotypes under the studied conditions. Path coefficient analysis revealed that harvest index had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield, followed by biological yield per plant, days to maturity, number of clusters per plant, test seed weight, and plant height. The findings indicate that harvest index, biological yield per plant, number of clusters per plant, plant height, and test seed weight may be useful selection criteria for improving seed yield in sesame breeding programmes.

In vitro Regeneration and Genetic Transformation for Enhanced Stress Resistance in Chickpea Plants

2026-08-01T11:54:01+00:00

Abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, and heat, and biotic stresses such as Fusarium wilt substantially reduce the productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), an important grain legume for human nutrition. Efficient regeneration and genetic transformation systems are essential for accelerating crop improvement and generating climate-resilient cultivars. In this study, an optimised in vitro regeneration system combined with Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was developed to transfer the stress-responsive AtDREB1A gene into chickpea. Cotyledonary nodes and cuttings produced 7.2 ± 0.5 and 7.0 ± 0.3 shoots per plant, respectively. Shoots cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 0.5 mg L⁻¹ kinetin, and 0.2 mg L⁻¹ α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) showed the highest regeneration frequency (94.7 ± 1.8%). The highest rooting frequency (91.6 ± 1.7%) was obtained on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 0.2 mg L⁻¹ NAA. A transformation efficiency of 10.25 ± 0.8% was obtained using A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 carrying the construct pCAMBIA1301::AtDREB1A. Stable transgene integration and expression were confirmed by PCR, Southern blot hybridisation, and quantitative real-time PCR, with the highest transgene accumulation detected in transgenic line T3 (8.11 ± 0.48-fold). Under drought, salinity, and Fusarium wilt stress, transgenic plants performed significantly better than wild-type plants in terms of relative water content, drought survival, salinity survival, membrane stability index, and disease incidence (p ≤ 0.05). The optimised regeneration and transformation platform offers a robust and reproducible approach for chickpea genetic improvement and supports molecular breeding, functional genomics, CRISPR/Cas genome engineering, and the development of climate-smart chickpea cultivars for sustainable crop production.

Genetic Variability, Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis for Fruit Yield Improvement in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

2026-07-31T13:18:31+00:00

Genetic variability and trait associations are essential for improving fruit yield in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). The present study was conducted during Kharif 2025 at the Research Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, AKS University, Satna, Madhya Pradesh, to evaluate 17 diverse okra genotypes using a randomised block design with three replications. Thirteen quantitative traits were recorded and analysed for genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation, and path coefficient analysis. Significant differences among genotypes for most traits indicated considerable genetic variability. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all traits, reflecting environmental influences on trait expression. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for days to 50% flowering, days to first flowering, days to first picking, and plant height, suggesting the predominance of additive gene action. Fruit yield per plant showed significant positive associations with the number of fruits per plant, fruit width, fruit weight, days to first picking, and days to 50% flowering. Path coefficient analysis revealed that days to first flowering had the highest positive direct effect on fruit yield, followed by plant height and fruit width. These traits may therefore serve as useful selection criteria for improving fruit yield and developing high-yielding okra cultivars.

Isolation and Enumeration of Soil Bacterial Population Associated with Rhizosphere Soils of Yellow Leaf Disease of Arecanut

2026-07-31T12:08:13+00:00

Yellow Leaf Disease (YLD) is one of the most destructive diseases affecting arecanut, causing severe yield reduction and a decline in palm vigour. The present study was undertaken to isolate, enumerate, and characterise culturable rhizosphere bacterial communities associated with healthy and YLD-affected arecanut palms. Rhizosphere soil samples were collected from healthy and diseased gardens, and bacterial colonies were isolated using serial dilution and the spread-plate technique on nutrient agar medium. The purified isolates were characterised based on colony morphology, Gram reaction, and cell morphology. A total of 33 bacterial isolates were obtained and characterised. Of these, 29 isolates (87.88%) were Gram-positive, whereas only four isolates (12.12%) were Gram-negative, indicating the predominance of Gram-positive bacteria in the arecanut rhizosphere. Colony morphology exhibited considerable diversity in colour and shape, with predominantly circular (73%) and serrated (27%) colonies. Microscopic examination revealed both cocci and rod-shaped bacterial cells. The predominance of Gram-positive bacteria and the higher culturable bacterial population in healthy rhizosphere soils suggest the presence of microbial communities that may contribute to nutrient cycling, plant growth promotion, and the suppression of soil-borne pathogens. These findings provide baseline information on culturable bacterial diversity associated with healthy and YLD-affected arecanut rhizospheres.

Genetic Analysis of Yield and Associated Traits through Combining Ability and Gene Action in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

2026-07-27T13:21:09+00:00

Aims: To evaluate the combining ability, determine the nature of gene action governing yield, oil content and associated traits, and identify superior parents and promising hybrid combinations for sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) improvement.

Study Design: Line × tester mating design.

Place and Duration of Study: Oilseeds Research Station, Latur, Maharashtra, India, during kharif 2025 (hybrid development) and rabi 2025–26 (field evaluation).

Methodology: Six cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and seven restorer lines were crossed in a line × tester mating design to generate 42 hybrids. The resulting hybrids, along with their 13 parents and three standard checks, were evaluated in a randomised block design with two replications for ten agro-morphological and quality traits. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, line × tester analysis to estimate general and specific combining ability, and assessment of gene action following the method of Kempthorne (1957).

Results: Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits studied, indicating substantial genetic variability. Line × tester analysis showed significant GCA and SCA effects for most traits, with non-additive gene action predominating for seed yield and several associated traits. Among the parents, NDCMS 2A and CMS 597A were identified as good general combiners among the lines, while NDL20, NDL3 and GMU847 were the most desirable testers for seed yield, oil content and associated traits. The crosses NDCMS 2A × NDL20, CMS 597A × NDL20, CMS 597A × NDL3, CMS 852A × GMU847 and CMS 597A × HOCL-20R exhibited desirable specific combining ability effects coupled with superior per se performance, indicating their potential for exploitation in sunflower hybrid breeding.

Conclusion: The findings indicated the involvement of both additive and non-additive gene action in the inheritance of yield, oil content and associated traits in sunflower, with the predominance of non-additive gene action for most of the characters. The identified superior combiners and promising hybrid combinations provide valuable genetic resources for the development of high-yielding and high-oil sunflower hybrids and can be effectively utilised in future sunflower breeding programmes.

Evaluation of Trichoderma spp. against Macrophominaphaseolina Causing Dry Root Rot in Blackgram

2026-07-24T12:29:55+00:00

Dry root rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina is an important constraint on blackgram productivity, particularly under high-temperature and moisture-stress conditions. This study evaluated the antagonistic potential of 20 Trichoderma isolates against M. phaseolina under in vitro conditions using a dual-culture assay and assessed their effects on blackgram seed germination and early seedling growth following seed biopriming. The isolates differed significantly in their capacity to inhibit pathogen mycelial growth. TPP-15 produced the highest inhibition (80.1%), followed by TPP-10 (79.6%) and TPP-2 (78.1%), whereas TPP-6 produced the lowest inhibition (64.9%). Several additional isolates showed inhibition above 73%. Seed biopriming with the isolates improved germination, root and shoot growth, vigour index, and seedling biomass relative to the control. TPP-15 recorded the highest seed germination (93.6%) and vigour index (3969.6), while TPP-1 recorded the lowest values among the treatments, although these remained above the control. The combined performance of TPP-15 in pathogen suppression and seedling growth promotion identifies it as the most promising isolate under the experimental conditions. However, the findings are limited to controlled assays, and efficacy against dry root rot must be validated in pathogen-infested soil, greenhouse, and field environments before practical application. Overall, selected Trichoderma isolates show potential for further development as biological components of dry root rot management in blackgram.