100-seed Weight Research Articles

Dissection of Genetic Parameters for Enhancing Yield and Yield Components in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

A study was conducted to evaluate the genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance of 13 quantitative traits in 55 mustard (Brassica juncea) genotypes. The traits assessed included days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, primary branches per plant, siliqua per plant, siliqua length, seeds per siliqua, seed yield per plant, 1000-seed weight, relative water content, membrane stability index, proline content, and oil content. Significant genetic variation was observed for all traits. Moderate phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were noted for siliqua per plant and proline content. Both traits exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, indicating that additive gene action predominates. This suggests that selection for these traits could lead to substantial genetic gains in mustard breeding programs. In contrast, traits like days to 50% flowering and oil content showed lower genetic advance, suggesting limited scope for selection. The findings highlight the importance of focusing on traits with high variability and heritability for improving yield and stress tolerance in mustard.

Evaluating the Yield Performance of Released Sesame Varieties in Western Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

The experiment was conducted in western Tigray in Humera and Dansha (Kebabo) area during the main growing season of 2016 under rain fed condition with the aim of evaluating and identifying the well performing and high yielder sesame variety. The experiment consisted of nine varieties laid down in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, Result of the combined analysis showed highly significant (p<0.01) difference among the varieties in days to flowering, days to maturity, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, thousand seeds weight and grain yield. Among the nine sesame varieties the highest mean grain yield was recorded on Setit-2 (1111.89 kg ha-1), Setit-1 (1070.58 kg ha-1), Humera-1(976.42 kg ha-1) and local check (970.20 kg ha-1) followed by Adi (755.42 kg ha-1) whereas the lowest mean grain yield was recorded on Borkena (548.67 kg ha-1), BaHa - Zeyit (548.69 kg ha-1) followed by BaHa- Necho (616.28 kg ha-1) and Gonder-1 (683.09 kg ha-1). This indicated that the verities released by Humera Agricultural Research Center and the local check (Hirhir) were highly performed in Humera. Therefore, even though they were statically similar; Setit-2 was recently released and it can be concluded that variety Setit-2 well performed and can be recommended for the growers in the study area.

Determination of Genetic Diversity in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Aim: To assess the degree of genetic divergence (D2 statistics) among sesame genotypes with respect to various traits. Study Design: The present experiment evaluated in the Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: Experiment was carried out during Rabi, 2023 at Niger Research Station, NAU, Vanarasi. Methodology: To evaluate the genetic diversity among 30 sesame genotypes, Mahalanobis D² Statistics was utilized. The genotypes were classified into six distinct clusters using Tocher’s method, revealing substantial diversity. Results: Cluster I contained the largest 17 genotypes followed by Cluster II with 9 genotypes. Clusters III, IV, V, and VI each included only a single genotype. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between Cluster I and Cluster IV (25.29) followed by Cluster I and Cluster V (24.07). The lowest inter-cluster distance was 10.00 noted between Cluster IV and Cluster V, suggesting that the genotypes within these clusters are closely related. Cluster III was noted for its high mean values in days to 50% flowering (44.67) and days to maturity (94.33), Cluster IV excelled in capsule width (9.32), Cluster V showed superior traits in plant height (128.78), capsule length (3.23), 1000-seed weight (3.92), harvest index (40.06) and seed yield/plant (9.57), while Cluster VI had the highest values for capsules/plant (39.75) and oil content (46.43). The analysis revealed that the greatest contributions to total divergence were made by 1000 seed weight (51.95%), followed by seed yield per plant (16.32%) and oil content (15.17%). In contrast, plant height and capsule length contributed minimum, each with 0.00%. Conclusion: These results indicate that Clusters III and IV, along with V and VI, exhibit the most significant divergence. This diversity highlights the potential for using these clusters as parent genotypes in breeding programs to achieve a wide range of variability and effective selection.

Differential Drought Responses of Soybean Genotypes in Relation to Photosynthesis and Growth-Yield Attributes.

Water scarcity leads to significant ecological challenges for global farming production. Sustainable agriculture depends on developing strategies to overcome the impacts of drought on important crops, including soybean. In this present study, seven promising soybean genotypes were evaluated for their drought tolerance potential by exposing them to water deficit conditions. The control group was maintained at 100% field capacity (FC), while the drought-treated group was maintained at 50% FC on a volume/weight basis. This treatment was applied at the second trifoliate leaf stage and continued until maturity. Our results demonstrated that water shortage exerted negative impacts on soybean phenotypic traits, physiological and biochemical mechanisms, and yield output in comparison with normal conditions. Our results showed that genotype G00001 exhibited the highest leaf area plant-1 (483.70 cm2), photosynthetic attributes like stomatal conductance (gs) (0.15 mol H2O m-2 s-1) and photosynthetic rate (Pn) (13.73 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1), and xylem exudation rate (0.25 g h-1) under drought conditions. The G00001 genotype showed greater leaf greenness by preserving photosynthetic pigments (total chlorophylls (Chls) and carotenoids; 4.23 and 7.34 mg g-1 FW, respectively) in response to drought conditions. Soybean plants accumulated high levels of stress indicators like proline and malondialdehyde when subjected to drought stress. However, genotype G00001 displayed lower levels of proline (4.49 μg g-1 FW) and malondialdehyde (3.70 μmol g-1 FW), indicating that this genotype suffered from less oxidative stress induced by drought stress compared to the other investigated soybean genotypes. Eventually, the G00001 genotype had a greater yield in terms of seeds pod-1 (SP) (1.90) and 100-seed weight (HSW) (14.60 g) under drought conditions. On the other hand, BD2333 exhibited the largest decrease in plant height (37.10%), pod number plant-1 (85.90%), SP (56.20%), HSW (54.20%), gs (90.50%), Pn (71.00%), transpiration rate (59.40%), relative water content (34.40%), Chl a (79.50%), total Chls (72.70%), and carotenoids (56.70%), along with the maximum increase in water saturation deficit (290.40%) and malondialdehyde content (280.30%) under drought compared to control conditions, indicating its higher sensitivity to drought stress. Our findings suggest that G00001 is a promising candidate to consider for field trials and further evaluation of its molecular signature may help breeding other elite cultivars to develop drought-tolerant, high-yielding soybean varieties.

Variation in the Growth and Popping Indicators of Argentina-derived Popcorns in Vietnam

The development of popcorn genotypes that are high-yielding and with high popping abilities is fundamental to the expansion of popcorn production. In this study, a total of 23 newly developed full-sib FS3 lines of popcorn were evaluated under upland field conditions in the spring cropping season in 2021. The plant genotypes were evaluated for growth duration, plant height, number of leaves, ears/plant, ear length, ear diameter; the number of kernels, seeds per row, 1000-seeds weight, seed yield, and the proportion of floury endosperm, and popping indicator. Our results showed that the growth duration of the popcorn lines ranged from 96 - 121 days, plants were between 103.7 - 200.6 cm in height, and the number of leaves ranged between 12.92-18.13. The number of ears/plant, ear length, ear diameter, and number of kernel rows and seeds per row were 0.3-1.3, 9.6 - 20 cm, 2.3 - 4.2 cm, 7.33 -13.6 and 6.2 - 31.9, respectively. The popcorn lines were diverse in grain color and classified into white, yellow, black, pink, white yellow, and white pink. The grain yield varied from 2.13 - 64.58 quintals/ha, in which NO-11 had the highest yield of 64.58 quintals/ha. Popping indicators varied among genotypes and were negatively and positively correlated with 1000-seed weight and proportion of floury endosperm, respectively. In this study, we identified some genetic resources, such as NO-2, NO-12, NO-14, NO-20, and NO-22, which had the best popping ability. These resources will provide insights into the mechanisms of popping ability and important materials for breeding programs. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 22(3): 285-294, 2024

Soil properties and yield of mung bean [VIGNA RADIATA (L.) WILCZEK] as influenced by tillage and phosphorous fertilizer management on sandy loam soil in Chitwan, Nepal

Phosphorous application combined with a variety of tillage methods promotes the growth and development of mungbeans and sustainably improves soil health. A field experiment was conducted in Mangalpur, Nepal from February to May of 2021 and 2022 to investigate the impact of varying tillage practices and phosphorous doses on the growth, development, and yield of mung beans, while also analyzing changes in soil physicochemical properties on sandy loam soil. The research was conducted in a 2-factorial split-plot design with three replications. After completion of the study, the plant height (59.43 cm), nodule plant-1 (15.84), pod plant−1 (23.65), and seed yield (1087.76 kgha−1) were significantly higher when phosphorous was applied at 40 kgha−1 and 60 kgha−1. Among different tillage practices, significantly greater plant height (57.21 cm), nodule per plant (15.76), pod plant−1 (24.99), seed pod-1 (10.76), seed yield (1089.92 kgha−1), and 1000-seed weight (48.23 g) were observed in conventional tillage. P at 60 kgha−1 resulted in significantly higher total soil nitrogen (0.207 %) and available P (30.65 kgha−1). Similarly, for tillage practices, statistically higher total soil nitrogen (0.23 %) and available phosphorous (32.45 kgha−1) were observed in zero tillage practices. Furthermore, pH was seen to be significantly higher in conventional tillage (6.12) followed by strip (5.79). A combination of conventional tillage with 40 kgha−1 was observed better in short-term conditions however, for better growth and yield of mung bean and sustainable health of the soil, zero tillage with 40 kgha−1 phosphorous can be suggested for sandy loam soil and environmental conditions present in the study site in the long-term.

Improving Sunflower Yield through Liming and Phosphorus Fertilizer Application in the South-Central Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Along with salinity, low soil pH is the major constraint for growing winter crops in the south central coastal region of Bangladesh. Extensive research has been done to manage soil salinity, where managing low soil pH for crop production is scarce. The aim of the experiment was to improve sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Hybrid Unisun) yield through liming and phosphorus fertilizer application in the acidic saline soil of Amtali upazila of Barguna district, Bangladesh. During the winter season of 2024 a field experiment was carried out comprising two rates of lime 0 and 2 t ha-1 and four levels of phosphorus (P) having 0, 12, 24 and 36 kg P ha-1 using RCBD design. Lime application at 2 t ha-1 rate significantly increased stem girth, head diameter, number of seeds per head, 1000-seed weight, and seed, stover and root yields of sunflower. The application of P up to the highest level (36 kg P ha-1) significantly increased the growth and yield of sunflower. Lime application increased the soil pH by 0.72 unit compared to non-liming plot. The application of lime (2 t ha-1) along with 36 kg P ha-1 recorded the highest sunflower seed yield of 3.21 t ha-1 in the soil of Amtali upazila of Barguna district, Bangladesh. The benefit cost ratio (BCR) of different rates of P application without liming ranged from 5.28-10.09 but it decreased drastically while P was applied with lime having the BCR between 0.15-1.82. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 22(3):352-359, 2024

Anthocyanin can improve the survival of rice seeds from solar light outside the international space station

A purple-pigmented (purple) rice seeds containing an anthocyanin, a major class of flavonoids, and their isogenic non-pigmented (white) seeds were exposed outside of the international space station (ISS) to evaluate the impact of anthocyanin on seed viability in space. The rice seeds were placed in sample plates at the exposed facility of ISS for 440 days, with the bottom layer seeds exposed to space radiation and the top layer seeds exposed to both solar light and space radiation. Though the seed weight of both purple and white seeds decreased after exposure to outer space, growth percentages after germination of purple and white seeds in the top layer were 55 and 15 %, respectively, compared to those in the bottom layer 100 and 70 %, respectively. RNA analysis revealed that 1,590 and 1,546 seed-stored mRNAs (long-lived mRNAs) were degraded in the white seeds of the top and the bottom layers, respectively, whereas those of the purple seeds in the top and bottom layers were 548 and 303, respectively. These results suggest that anthocyanin protected seeds and safeguarded long-lived mRNAs from solar light and space radiation to increase the seed viability.

Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Padi (Oryza sativa L) Menggunakan Berbagai Sistem Tanam Pada Varietas Yang Berbeda

Rice is the most important food crop in Indonesia. Indonesian people use rice as a daily staple, because rice contains a source of carbohydrates and energy. The aim of the research is to determine the planting systems, varieties and interactions between planting systems and varieties that provide the highest growth and production in rice plants. This research uses a 2 factor factorial design, the first factor is the planting system (S) which consists of 3 treatments: 20 x 20 cm tile planting system (S1), 25 x 25 cm tile planting system (S2), and legowo planting system 2 :1 (S3), the second factor is Variety (V) which consists of 2 treatments, namely the Ciherang Variety (V1) and the Mekongga Variety (V2). The observation parameters are plant height, number of tillers, number of productive tillers, number of perennial seeds, weight of permalai seeds, weight of 1000 grains, and weight of grain per unit. The research results showed that the Jajar Legowo 2:1 planting system gave the highest average number of tillers, namely 24.8 stems, and the highest number of productive saplings with an average of 18.9 stems. The Ciherang variety has a higher plant height and number of perennial seeds than the Mekongga variety. There is no interaction between planting system and variety.

Boosting resilience and yields in water-stressed sunflower through coordinated irrigation scheduling and silica gel applications

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a globally significant oilseed crop, yet its yields may suffer due to water deficiency. A field experiment was conducted through two summer seasons (2021 and 2022) at the agricultural research station, Luxor, Egypt, to study the effects of irrigation regime, cultivar selection, and silica gel application on sunflower growth and yield parameters. The experiment utilized a split-split plot design with three irrigation levels based on field capacity (85 %, 70 %, 55 %), three sunflower cultivars (Sakha-53, Giza-102, and Giza-120), and two Silica gel treatments (0 and 300 kg/ha). Analysis of variance revealed significant effects of irrigation (P < 0.001) on all measured traits except 100-seed weight. Utilizing various cultivars also revealed substantial influence, affecting most traits consistently across the two seasons. Silica gel application positively impacted head diameter, 100-seed weight, oil content, and oil yield (P < 0.05). Furthermore, treatments combining moderate irrigation with silica gel application exhibited the highest water productivity, with values reaching 1.35 kg/m³ in the first season and 1.38 kg/m³ in the second season, indicating the synergistic effects of improved water management and silica gel on crop water use efficiency. Multivariate analysis of principal component analysis and clustering heatmap revealed that treatment combinations such as I2S1 (moderate irrigation with silica gel) optimized sunflower productivity, particularly for seed yield and oil content, reinforcing the importance of tailored agronomic practices for maximizing crop performance under varying environmental conditions. These findings underscore the significance of integrated agronomic approaches in enhancing sunflower productivity while promoting sustainable crop management practices.

Assessing genotypic diversity by multivariate analysis and predicting useful selection ranges using decision tree in soybean (Glycine max L.)

The existence of sufficient genetic variability and knowing the suitable selection criterion ranges are indispensable requirements of breeding studies. This study aimed to explore genetic diversity in ten F2 populations (heterozygous–heterogeneous), five parents, and three commercial check cultivars by multivariate methods and to predict useful selection ranges using a decision tree model for further breeding studies. Hybridizations were made in 2019, F1 populations were grown, and F2 seeds were obtained in 2020. Genotypes were grown according to an Augmented Randomized Complete-Block Design in 2021 at Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Agriculture. Results revealed considerable genetic diversity and transgressive segregation in key characteristics across the F2 populations. Seed yields of F2 plants are higher than those of the parents. The seed protein and oil content of the F2 plants were not different from the parents and commercial checks. Higher phenotypic than genotypic variance indicated a high influence of environment on the inheritance of all studied characteristics. The highest broad heritability was observed in the number of shattered pods per plant (94.81 %) and the lowest in infertile pods per plant (2.16 %). Seed yield showed a significant and positive genotypic correlation with the number of fertile pods per plant (0.61**) and a significant negative association with the number of fertile branches per plant (−0.53**). Principal component analysis (PCA) of 14 quantitative characteristics showed that soybean genotypes separated by the first four components contributed 71.12 % of total genetic variation, with important yield-attributing characteristics present in PC1 and PC3, while important seed quality characteristics were noted in PC2. The decision tree model indicated that genotypes with high yield and optimum quality could be obtained by selecting the number of fertile pods 87–119 per plant and a hundred-seed weight greater than 14.55 g.

Growth and Yield of Lentil as Influenced by Zinc and Boron Management

A field experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh, during the period from November 2021 to March 2022 to evaluate the influence of micronutrients management on growth and yield of two lentil varieties viz., BARI Masur-8 (V1) and Binamasur-8 (V2) and 6 micronutrients management (no fertilizer - F1, recommended fertilizer dose (RFD) (40-90-40-55 Kg ha−1 of urea-TSP-MoP-Gypsum) with 10 Kg ha−1 ZnSO4 as basal - F2, RFD with zinc (Zn) as foliar spray - F3, RFD with Zn and boron (B) as foliar spray - F4, 50% RFD + 50% cow dung (5 t ha−1) - F5 and 50% RFD + 50% cow dung + Zn and B as foliar spray - F6). No significant effect had found for variety except 1000-seed weight but micronutrients management along with interactions significantly effects on all studied parameters of lentil. The higher 1000-seed weight (34.16 g) was recorded in BARI Masur-8. The highest plant height (37.09 cm), number of branches plant−1 (7), dry weight of root plant−1 (159.17 mg), dry weight of shoot plant−1 (3319.33 mg) and number of pods plant−1 (62) was observed at F6 treatment. The highest 1000-seed weight (31.68 g) were recorded at F2 treatment. The highest weight of nodules plant−1 (10.33 mg at 60 DAS), seed yield (2.62 t ha−1), straw yield (2.12 t ha−1) and biological yield (4.74 t ha−1) were found at F3 treatment. The highest plant height (38.45 cm), number of branches plant−1 (7), number of pods plant−1 (63), seed yield (2.91 t ha−1) and harvest index (58.65%) were recorded at V2F6 whereas the highest weight of nodules plant-1 (26 mg), straw yield (2.22 t ha−1) and biological yield (5.02 t ha−1) were found at V1F3 but the highest 1000-seed weight (34.87 g) at V1F1. The highest number of seeds pod−1 (1.83) was found at V2F1. So, two varieties showed similar performance on yield. Foliar application of Zn has the potentiality to increase seed yield. The variety Binamasur-8 with 50% RFD + 50% cow dung + Zn and B (F6) as foliar spray could bring maximum yield (2.91 t ha−1) of lentil followed by treatment F2, F3, and F4. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2024, 26(2): 34-40

Analysis of the role of the rice metallothionein gene OsMT2b in grain size regulation

Seed size is one of the three main characteristics determining rice yield. Clarification of the mechanisms regulating seed size in rice has implications for improving rice yield. Although several genes have been reported to regulate seed size, most of the reports are fragmentary. The role of metallothioneins (MTs) in regulating seed size remains unknown. Here, we found that OsMT2b was expressed in both spikelets and developing seeds. OsMT2b-overexpression lines had large and heavy seeds, and RNAi (RNA interference) lines had small and light seeds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that OsMT2b regulated spikelet hull size by affecting cell expansion in the outer epidermis. Histological analysis indicated that OsMT2b affected the number of cells in the cross-section of spikelet hulls, which affected seed size. The fresh weight of seeds was consistently higher in OsMT2b-overexpression lines than in seeds of the wild-type (WT) and RNAi lines from 6 DAP (days after pollination) until maturity, indicating that OsMT2b affected seed filling. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses revealed that OsMT2b regulates the expression of reactive oxygen species scavenging-related genes involved in seed size regulation. In conclusion, our results indicated that OsMT2b positively regulates seed size, which provides a novel approach for regulating seed size with genetic engineering technology.

Evaluating chickpea varietal performance under different levels of phosphorus application

Chickpea, a vital legume crop, faces yield limitations due to factors like climatic conditions, nutrition deficiency in soil etc. Therefore, the knowledge of adoptive varieties to prevailing climatic conditions and enhancement yield by nutrient management is essential. The present investigation was carried out to assess the effect of varying levels of phosphorus on growth and yield of chickpea, at Agricultural Research Farm of SGRR University, Dehradun during Rabi season of 2022-23. The treatments of experiment comprise two chickpea varieties viz., PG-186 (V1) and Type 9 (V2) and five levels of phosphorus application i.e., 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 kg P2O5/ha which were replicated thrice in factorial randomize design. The growth and yield parameters were recorded during different crop growth stages to get the response of treatments. The recorded data shows that the variety Type 9 perform better than variety PG-186 in most of the growth and yield attributing characters. Among the phosphorus doses the application of 45 kg P2O5/ha was perform best among all other treatments. The interaction effects of variety Type 9 with 45 kg P2O5/ha (V2T4) showed maximum growth and yield attributing characters over the other treatment combinations like plant height (46.66 cm), number of branches per plant (5.67), dry matter accumulation in plant (30.67 g), 1000 seeds weight (140.00 g) and seeds yield per hectare (14.30 q/ha). Based on experimental findings it can be concluded that variety Type 9 with application of 45 kg P2O5 /ha is best among all other treatments for higher yield of chickpea at Doon valley of Uttarakhand.

Genome-Wide Association for Morphological and Agronomic Traits in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Accessions.

Exploring genetic resources through genomic analyses has emerged as a powerful strategy to develop common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars that are both productive and well-adapted to various environments. This study aimed to identify genomic regions linked to morpho-agronomic traits in Mesoamerican and Andean common bean accessions and to elucidate the proteins potentially involved in these traits. We evaluated 109 common bean accessions over three agricultural years, focusing on traits including the grain yield (YDSD), 100-seed weight (SW), number of seeds per pod (SDPD), number of pods per plant (PDPL), first pod insertion height (FPIH), plant height (PLHT), days to flowering (DF), and days to maturity (DPM). Using multilocus methods such as mrMLM, FASTmrMLM, FASTmrEMMA, ISIS EM-BLASSO, and pLARmEB, we identified 36 significant SNPs across all chromosomes (Pv01 to Pv11). Validating these SNPs and candidate genes in segregating populations is crucial for developing more productive common bean cultivars through marker-assisted selection.

Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Controlling Tuta absoluta and Enhancing Tomato Seed Yield and Quality

A field experiment was conducted in the mid-hills region of Himachal Pradesh, India, during April, 2019–January, 2020, to evaluate various insect management strategies, including eco-friendly approaches, against Tuta absoluta and other pests on tomato crop. Six treatment modules were compared to untreated control plants. Among all treatments, T4, which included lambda cyhalothrin, indoxacarb, rynaxypyr and novaluron, was most effective, recording the lowest number of Tuta absoluta larvae (0.43) and leaf mines (0.75) plant-1. This treatment also showed the lowest populations of aphids (10.49), serpentine leaf miners (0.83), and fruit borers (1.28) plant-1. T4 significantly enhanced growth and yield parameters, with the highest number of flower clusters (7.73), fruits (29.36), healthy fruits (23.23) plant-1, seeds per fruit (87.73), 1000-seed weight (2.76 g), and seed yield (5.32 g plant-1, 63.84 g plot-1, 149.35 kg ha-1). Seed quality was also superior in T4, showing maximum germination (87.25%), seedling length (16.14 cm), dry weight (1.88 mg), seedling vigor indices I and II (1,412.57 and 164.71), and germination after accelerated ageing (75.25%). The enhanced performance can be attributed to the collaborated action of eco-friendly chemicals, which effectively reduced pest populations, allowing the plants to utilize their energy for growth and seed development. This study underscores the importance of integrated use of pest management strategies in optimizing tomato production, seed yield and quality, highlighting the possible benefits for agricultural economies. This study identifies an effective eco-friendly approach using specific insecticides to control Tuta absoluta and improve tomato yield and seed quality while minimizing environmental impact.

Assessment of Combining Ability and Gene Action in F1 Generation for Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L). Millsp.

To estimate combining ability and nature of gene action, twenty four pigeonpea crosses were developed from ten parents in Line × Tester fashion during Kharif 2022-23 and were evaluated in Randomized Block Design with three replications during Kharif 2023-24. The estimates of σ2gca were lower than the corresponding σ2sca for all the twelve characters studied indicating the predominance of non-additive gene action. Among the parents, the line GJP 1915 was found to be good general combiner for seed yield per plant and its yield contributing characters like plant height, number of primary branches per plant and pod length. The tester GJP 1820 was also good general combiner for seed yield per plant and its component traits like plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight. The cross BDN 2013-41 × UPAS 120 had registered the highest sca effect for seed yield per plant. The sca effect in this cross combination was also accompanied by significant and desirable standard heterosis and high per se performance for days to maturity, reproductive phase duration, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod and significant and desirable heterobeltiosis for days to maturity, reproductive phase duration, number of primary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight. The cross GJP 1915 × BLACKTUR had registered significant and positive sca effect for seed yield per plant which was also accompanied by highest per se performance for pod length. These cross combinations can be potentially utilized in future breeding programmes for exploitation of hybrid vigour.

Growth, forage yield and seed yield components responses of some bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia) varieties to different seeding rate in Sula-mani Region

A field trial investigated the impact of varying seeding rates; 60 kg ha-1, 80 , 100 , and 120 Kg ha-1 on the growth, forage yield, and yield components of three bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia) varieties (Perper from Serbia, Larnaca, and Tarsan-2). The experiments were conducted during the winter season of 2022-2023 in the Sulaimani governorate at Qlyasan locations. A factorial design was employed, and the experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Mean comparisons were performed using the Duncan test. Results indicate that a seeding rate of 60 Kg ha-1 resulted in optimal plant height (96.644 cm). The parameters Days to 50% flowering and days to maturity reached maximum values of 121.831 and 157.614, respectively, with an 80 Kg ha-1seeding rate. Dry leaf weight peaked at 1.129 g with the same seeding rate. Tarsan-2 exhibited the highest dry leaf weight (1.045 g), while variety number 2 showed the highest dry stem weight (3.746 g). Additionally, a seeding rate of 60 kg/ha combined with variety number 1 yielded the tallest plants (103.800 cm).Tarsan-2, in conjunction with a seeding rate of 120 , demonstrated the longest durations for Days to 50% flowering (127.300 days) and days to maturity (164.240 days), as well as the highest dry leaf weight (4.153 g). The maximum fresh yield was recorded at 24.699 ton/ha and 24.456 ton/ha with seeding rates of 100 Kg ha-1 and 120 Kg ha-1, respectively. Variety number 2, seeded at 60 Kg ha-1, exhibited the highest number of pods per plant (22.110). Conversely, variety number 1, when seeded at a rate of 100 Kg ha-1, yielded the highest 100-seed weight (22.073 g), seed yield (5.801 Mg ha-1), and harvest index (0.326).

Biogas slurry: A potential substance that synergistically enhances rapeseed yield and lodging resistance

Biogas slurry (BS) plays a vital role in improving the efficiency of crop production. On the flip side, the impact of BS on plant lodging factors and yield related traits is still obscure. Hence, we aimed to study the effects of pig and cow BS applications on yield formation, morpho-anatomical, mechanical, physiological properties and transcript expression patterns. The results showed that the yield and lodging resistance of rapeseed were synergistically improved via applying full BS dosage versus nitrogen fertilizer (CK). In addition, the seed yield was significantly increased by 23.9 % by promoting the dry matter accumulation and transport-ability, increasing number of pods by 8.4 % and 1000-seed weight by 5.1 %, respectively. Moreover, BS developed the stem mechanical strength by decreasing lodging index by 34.2 %, which was manifested by an increase in stem thickness and stiffness and a reduction in plant height. Besides, it enhanced the photosynthesis through promoting chlorophyll synthesis, delaying plant senescence, and accumulating N and K concentration. Anatomical observations revealed that BS increased greater number and area of stem vascular bundles, vessels, and maintained a dense microstructure than CK. Also, it boosted pectin, Ca2+ and K+ contents, which were significantly positively correlated with stem mechanical strength and reduced cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose contents. Meanwhile, correlation and structural equation modeling analysis validated the above results. Additionally, the differentially expressed genes were enriched in cell wall formation pathway, especially about the biosynthesis of pectin (PME, PG and PL), cellulose (CesA and CSL), lignin (PAL, POD, CCR, LAC and COMT) and hemicellulose (XTH and Xyl) were identified under BS. The above-mentioned results indicated that BS simultaneously affected lodging behavior by altering structural carbohydrates and modified yield composition by regulating dry-matter accumulation and allocation. This is the first comprehensive strategy on synchronizing rapeseed yield increase and lodging resistance under optimized BS management.

The transcription factors GmVOZ1A and GmWRI1a synergistically regulate oil biosynthesis in soybean.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a major oil-producing crop worldwide. Although several related proteins regulating soybean oil accumulation have been reported, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we characterized vascular plant one-zinc-finger 1A (GmVOZ1A) that interacts with WRINKLED 1a (GmWRI1a) using yeast two-hybrid library screening. The GmVOZ1A-GmWRI1a interaction was further verified by protein-protein interaction assays in vivo and in vitro. GmVOZ1A enhanced the seed fatty acid and oil contents by regulating genes involved in lipid biosynthesis. Conversely, a loss-of-function mutation in GmVOZ1A resulted in a reduction in triacylglycerol (TAG) content in soybean. Protein-DNA interaction assays revealed that GmVOZ1A and GmWRI1a cooperate to up-regulate the expression level of acyl-coenzymeA-binding protein 6a (GmACBP6a) and promote the accumulation of TAG. In addition, GmACBP6a overexpression promoted seed fatty acid and oil contents, as well as increased seed size and 100-seed weight. Taken together, these findings indicate that the transcription factor GmVOZ1A regulates soybean oil synthesis and cooperates with GmWRI1a to up-regulate GmACBP6a expression and oil biosynthesis in soybean. The results lay a foundation for a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying soybean oil biosynthesis and will contribute to improving soybean oil production through molecular breeding approaches.