Hybrid Programming Research Articles

Characterization of diverse sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) panel through morphological and molecular marker analysis

Sesame is one of the most important and ancient oilseeds crop with high and good quality oils content. Present Investigation was carried out for the assessment of the genetic diversity using 33 sesame genotypes through morphologically and 21 SSR markers. In the morphological diversity analysis, nine clusters were observed with 33 genotypes using all phenological, yield and its contributing attributes. Among the 9 clusters, cluster II had maximum number of genotypes (14) followed by cluster III (6), cluster IV (5), cluster I (3), cluster V, VI, VII, VIII and IX had one genotype to each cluster. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster VI and I (386.70), which indicates maximum diversity between the genotypes of these clusters, could be further used in crossing programme. However, SSR markers grouped 33 genotypes into six clusters at 0.51 dissimilarity index. In which cluster V had maximum (7) genotypes and cluster VI had minimum (3) genotypes. The results of genetic diversity tallied with the morphological diversity, such as BRT-04 are the farthest from BRT-08, BRT-09 and BRT-10, however BRT-08, BRT-09 and BRT-10 are in the same cluster in both morphological and molecular diversity analysis. The UPGMA dendrogramwas constructed using Jaccard's dissimilarity coefficients based on SSR markers score on thirty-three genotypes. Polymorphism information content (PIC) value varied between 0.15 and 0.36 with an average of 0.27. The genotypes from the distinct clusters can be utilized for hybridization programme to recover heterotic pools.

Salinity Stress Tolerance in Potato Cultivars: Evidence from Physiological and Biochemical Traits.

Salinity stress is a major constraint to sustainable crop production due to its adverse impact on crop growth, physiology, and productivity. As potato is the fourth most important staple food crop, enhancing its productivity is necessary to ensure food security for the ever-increasing population. Identification and cultivation of salt-tolerant potato genotypes are imperative mitigating strategies to cope with stress conditions. For this purpose, fifty-three varieties of potato were screened under control and salt stress conditions for growth and yield-related traits during 2020. Salt stress caused a mean reduction of 14.49%, 8.88%, and 38.75% in plant height, stem numbers, and tuber yield, respectively in comparison to control. Based on percent yield reduction, the genotypes were classified as salt-tolerant (seven genotypes), moderately tolerant (thirty-seven genotypes), and salt-sensitive genotypes (nine genotypes). Seven salt-tolerant and nine salt-sensitive genotypes were further evaluated to study their responses to salinity on targeted physiological, biochemical, and ionic traits during 2021. Salt stress significantly reduced the relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance, and K+/Na+ ratio in all the sixteen genotypes; however, this reduction was more pronounced in salt-sensitive genotypes compared to salt-tolerant ones. The better performance of salt-tolerant genotypes under salt stress was due to the strong antioxidant defense system as evidenced by greater activity of super oxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and better osmotic adjustment (accumulation of proline). The stepwise regression approach identified plant height, stem numbers, relative water content, proline content, H2O2, POX, tuber K+/Na+, and membrane stability index as predominant traits for tuber yield, suggesting their significant role in alleviating salt stress. The identified salt-tolerant genotypes could be used in hybridization programs for the development of new high-yielding and salt-tolerant breeding lines. Further, these genotypes can be used to understand the genetic and molecular mechanism of salt tolerance in potato.

The Impact of Instructional Modality on the Relationship of Psychological Sense of Community to Thriving among Graduate Students

McMillan and Chavis (1986) defined a psychological sense of community (PSC) as feelings of influence, membership, integration, and shared emotional connection. The importance of PSC to graduate student success has been established, but to date, no one has examined the extent to which PSC predicts student thriving when data is disaggregated by instructional modality. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PSC contributes to student thriving to a greater extent for online learners than for those in face-to-face or hybrid programs. Data from the 2018 Graduate Thriving QuotientTM survey administration were analyzed. Analyses of variance determined there were no statistically significant differences in levels of thriving or PSC between the modalities. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis confirmed that PSC accounted for a larger percentage of variance in Thriving Quotient scores among online learners (20.6%) than for either hybrid learners (12.9% of variance) or face-to-face learners (7.5%). This finding suggests that when the proportion of the degree program that is conducted online increases, PSC becomes even more important to students’ thriving.

Determination of table olive characteristics of new olive varieties obtained by crossbreeding of Gemlik and Memecik variety

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of 10 hybrid type table olives obtained as a result of a national level hybridization program in the Olive Research Institute. Material and Methods: The samples selected from Memecik x Gemlik and Gemlik x Memecik combinations, which came to the pre-elimination stage in the project, were evaluated in terms of table olives characteristics. These products were obtained in four olive seasons. Olives were subjected to some physical and chemical tests and analyzes. The main olive processing techniques (green split olive, natural turning black olives and Spanish style green olives) were applied to test the suitability of the cultivar candidates to processing techniques. Results: The olive variety candidates, GM 41, GM 39, MG 11 and MG 5 attracted more attention than the main varieties of the cross breeding project, “Memecik” and “Gemlik”, in terms of some table olive characteristics like high flesh/pit ratio and the number of olive fruits per kilogram. Especially, The variety, GM 41 was found to be significantly important candidate for the natural black olive processing because of having high number of olives per kilogram. Conclusion: As a result of this study, it was concluded thata the hybrid variety candidates, MG5 and MG13 were found to be promising in terms of table olive characteristics and registered as HAYAT and ARSEL, respectively.

Genetic studies to determine the selection criteria for advancing BC1F3 families of Azucena /CB 87R IN rice for restorer development

The aim of this study was to figure out genetic variability, correlation and path co-coefficients for seven traits in 42 F3 families of the cross Azucena/CB 87R*1 aimed for developing new restorer lines with indica tropical japonica background for their utilization in a hybrid program. The population exhibited high PCV  and GCV  for the traits viz., the number of productive tillers per plant, panicle weight and single plant yield. For the same traits, high heritability combined with high GAM was also deduced.  The traits panicle weight, the number of productive tillers per plant, panicle length, flag leaf length and flag leaf width showed positive and significant associations with single plant yield. Though the traits panicle weight and the number of productive tillers were negatively correlated, they both exerted a high direct effect on single plant yield. Keywords: Rice, indica-tropical japonica restorers, Variability, Heritability, Correlation, Path analysis

Genetic studies on green fodder yield and quality traits in fodder maize (Zea mays L.)

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the genetic divergence in 93 inbreds of fodder maize through genetic variability, D2 and principal component analysis. Observations were recorded on ten biometrical traits and a quality trait. The variability analysis revealed higher GCV and PCV for green fodder yield per plant and higher heritability coupled with high genetic advance for the traits viz., plant height, leaf length and green fodder yield per plant. Hence, the variability study indicated that the direct selection for the above traits would be effective. Diversity analysis sorted the 93 inbreds into eleven clusters. In the case of inter cluster distance, the maximum distance was obtained between clusters VIII and X followed by clusters VI and VIII and VIII and XI indicating that these cluster pairs have a more genetic divergence and the inbreds of these clusters could be utilized in a fodder maize hybridization programme. The D2analysis suggests that the inbreds viz., GETM30, GETM84, GETM12, and GETM81 were distinct and diversified and classed as promising inbreds based on the cluster mean and divergence. These genotypes could be utilized in a fodder maize hybridization programme to obtain heterotic fodder maize hybrids apart from getting the desired segregants in later generations. According to the principle component (PC) analysis, out of 11 PC groups, four PCs recorded more than one Eigenvalue, which contributes 70.30% of the total variability. However, the variability for green fodder yield and its attributing traits were higher in PC1, PC2, PC3 and PC4 and hence, the inbreds that recorded higher PC scores in these components could be utilized in the further hybridization programme to enhance the biomass yield in fodder maize. Keywords: Fodder maize inbreds, variability, diversity, PCA

Fractional order modelling and robust multi-model intelligent controllers’ synthesis for ACP1000 nuclear power plant

In this research work, a third generation Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) type Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) of 1100 MWe rating called Advanced Chinese PWR (ACP1000) NPP is adopted. The research and development work is mainly encompassed of addition of third steam generator loop, hybrid programming platforms, fractional order modular modelling and intelligent controllers. The ACP1000 NPP is comprised of primary loop, secondary loop and balance of plant (BOP). The ACP1000 nonlinear dynamics is precisely modelled with greater efficiency using fractional order differential equations. The entire plant is modelled into eighteen modules in a fractional order framework in Visual Basic (VB) environment. The eighteen modules are governed by nine controllers. Controllers are configured in a fashion of an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). An innovative multi input single output (MISO) ANFIS virtual instrument (VI) is designed for training and configuring controllers in LabVIEW. The developed MISO ANFIS VI in combination is implemented for multi-input multi output (MIMO) ANFIS controllers in parallel computing framework. The variable transfer between fractional order multi- modular framework in VB (FO- MMF-VB) and robust intelligent ANFIS controllers in LabVIEW (RI-ANFIS-LV) is established in client server configuration and system exec VI for calling external code in VB. This hybrid programming framework of Visual Basic and LabVIEW is actually a development of LabVIEW Visual Basic Integration (LabVb) Toolkit used to evaluate the closed loop transient performance of ACP1000 nuclear power plant. Various parameters are simulated for dynamic transient simulations under load manoeuvring from 100% power to 50% power. The results are analysed and validated against benchmark design data and Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR). All the results are within the protection systems design limits under normal operating conditions.

Phenotypic diversity for fruit quality traits and bioactive compounds in red-fleshed guava: Insights from multivariate analyses and machine learning algorithms

Precise characterization of genetic resources is critically important for developing high yielding and nutri-rich guava cultivars. This study aimed at delineating phenotypic diversity for fruit yield, quality and bioactive compounds in the newly developed red-fleshed guava selections and hybrids. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the associated effect-size estimates revealed a high degree of phenotypic diversity for most of tree growth and fruit quality traits, minerals and bioactive compounds in the guava accessions analyzed. Principal Component Analysis efficiently discerned key trends in data with first and second Principal Components representing nutritional and bioactive compounds, and fruit yield attributes, respectively. Grouping of guava accessions into separate k-means clusters evinced a fairly high genetic divergence for the traits examined. Correlation and network analyses revealed that total antioxidant activity of fruits was strongly and positively regulated by total phenols (TP), β-carotene (β-car) and flavonoids (Flav). Gradient Boosting and Random Forest regression models also confirmed an overarching influence of TP, β-car and Flav in determining the total antioxidant activity. Our findings are expected to assist the guava breeders in selecting suitable parental combinations for future hybridization programs. The promising guava accessions identified by us meet the fresh consumption and processing standards, and may thus be considered for commercial planting.

Evaluation of yield contributing characters and cluster analysis of soybean genotypes

A morphological divergence study among the twenty genotypes based on nine yield and yield contributing characters through the D2 statistic indicated the presence of substantial diversity by forming clusters with a wide range of inter-cluster distances. The soybean genotypes under investigation were divided into five clusters. Cluster I had the most genotypes, with 10, followed by clusters III and V, each with five and three genotypes. The relative divergence indicates how much each cluster varies from the others. Cluster I and Cluster III have the most significant order of divergence, followed by Cluster III and Cluster IV. The results revealed that the parents in these clusters are genetically heterogeneous. It's possible that a hybridization program obtained a significant heterotic response. Clusters I and II found the minimum inter-cluster distances, indicating limited genetic diversity. Cluster III had the maximum seed yield per plant cluster value. Individual performance was highest for the genotypes BINAsoybean-3, BINAsoybean-2, and Shohag for the trait seed yield per plant.

Assessment of genetic variability in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes

The selection of high-yielding cotton lines is critical for the evaluation of phenotypic characteristics. For Cotton Breeders, it is always in preference to select desirable genotypes, based on the diversified characters from the available germplasm. The selected phenotypic diversity can be useful for aiding information in parental selection, adherence to this, a set of 12 advanced cotton lines were evaluated for genetic diversity at Cotton Research Institute, Tandojam during Kharif season in the year of 2020. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications while seven agronomical traits, were included in the experiment. The mean square of genotypes, was differed significantly (P<0.05) for all studied traits, representing that genetic diversity exists in these cotton germplasms and can be used in further utilization. Considering the agronomic performance, the genotype of B-2 was on the top in average values including plant height (174.40 cm), bolls plant-1 (42.067), seed cotton yield plant-1(139.34 g), GOT% (37.800%), and staple length (28.00 mm), hence indicating its valuable breeding resources for future cotton breeding. A Genetic Distance of 92.683 was found between B5 and B2 genotypes, which is high enough, and revealing that this pair may be used in a hybridization program for vigorous hybrid production and better selection in subsequent generations. The Variance Percentages for the first, second, and third principal components were 42.70, 23.10, and 17.20, respectively. The first three components contributed 83.00 percent of the variation for genotypes, which is high enough for the cotton crop improvements. The cotton genotypes, were divided into three categories, based on phenotypic data. The number of groups obtained, might be beneficial in generating cotton genotypes with a variety of characteristics and diversifying the Cotton Gene Pool. Keywords: cotton, genetic variations, morphological traits, seed yield.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF FIELD MUSTARD (BRASSICA RAPA L.) AND THEIR SATURATED AND UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS ASSOCIATION

The oilseed crop improvement for Brassica rapa L. (field mustard) is considered to be important in respect of yield production coupled with unsaturated fatty acids of the existing cultivars. Hence, the genetic diversity, and nutritional components of 14 B. rapa cultivars were evaluated based on their yield attributes and fatty acid profiles at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. These 14 B. rapa cultivars differed significantly and were grouped into five diversified clusters. The highest intra-cluster distance was found in cluster II (2.43), while the highest inter-cluster distance was found between clusters II and V (20.41). In the fatty acid profile, the maximum threshold acceptable level (<7%) of saturated fatty acids for human consumption was found in Sonali Sarisha and BARI Sarisha-14. The total monounsaturated fatty acids viz., oleic, eicosenoic, and erucic acid ranged from 62.74% in BARI Sarisha-15 to 69.51% in Sonali Sarisha. The highest oleic acid and eicosenoic acid were obtained from the local variety, Maghi (21.06%) and Improved Tori (9.08%). The highest essential linoleic and linolenic acids were found in BARI Sarisha-15 (17.10%) and Improved Tori (8.16%), respectively. However, the local cultivar Maghi, containing the highest oleic acid (21.06%) has the lowest erucic acid (35.53%). On the other hand, BARI Sarisha-14 contained the lowest oleic (17.22%) and the highest erucic (44.02%) acids. The negative and strong correlation also reinforced the reverse relationship between oleic and erucic acids. Similarly, both linoleic (-0.497) and linolenic (-0.443) acids also showed a negative correlation with erucic acid. As a whole, BARI Sarisha-14, BARI Sarisha-15, Maghi, Sonali Sarisha, and Improved Tori could be selected as potential parents for a hybridization program to breed potential recombinant lines with higher oil content and healthier unsaturated oleic and linoleic fatty acids.

INVESTIGATE GENETIC RELATION AMONG WATERMELON CULTIVARS USING MOLECULAR DNA MARKERS

This study was aimed to investigate genetic relation among 21 selective of watermelon seeds which collected from different commercial companies for different origins and produced at different years by using 12 primers for Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR). The results showed that the selective of Crimson sweet had genotypes highest genetic relation between ( K1 and K2) it was found less than the genetic similarity between ( K1and K4) , ( K2 and K4) .The four selective were divided two groups A and B. The results showed that the selective a Charleston gray had the highest genetic relation between (CH4 and CH6) while it found less than the genetic relation between (CH5 and CH9). The ten selectives were divided two cluster A and B,The groups A was divided three sub clusters .The results revealed that the highest genetic relation between the selective of the variety Sugar baby (S1and S3). While found less genetic relation between the (S1 and S5) and divided the selectives of Sugar baby into two main cluster A and B, The cluster B was divided two sub cluster. The result found that the highest genetic relation among the 21 selective it was between ( CH4 and CH6), while found less than of genetic similarity among ( CH8 and S5) ( CH8 and S2),( S2 and K1) ,( S2 and K2) ,( S2 and CH9),( K1 and S5) ( S5 and CH9). The 21 selectives was divided two main clusters A and B the group A was divided to three sub clusters while the group B was divided two sub clusters. It could be concluded that the genetic relation it is very important in the hybridization programs to it prove a large genetic base to benefit of plant breeding programs.

Studies on Genetic Variability and Divergence in Mustard (Brassica Juncea L.).

The purpose of the research is to study Genetic Variability, Divergence and correlation studies on 20 genotypes of mustard The phenotypic coefficient of variation was greater than genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits. The high magnitude of both coefficients was recorded in case of number of primary number, secondary, number of siliquae per plant, seed yield per plant and harvesting index. High heritability with high genetic advance was recorded for number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, length of main raceme, number of siliquae in main raceme, number of siliqua per plant, number of seeds per siliquae, biological yield, 1000 seed weight, seed yield per plant and harvesting index. In the present findings the significant phenotypic correlation of seed yield per plant were found positive for the characters Days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, length of main raceme, number of siliqua per plant, length of siliqua, number of seeds per siliqua, harvesting index and seed yield per plant showed positive significant correlation with seed yield per plant. The path coefficient analysis of different characters revealed that highest positive direct effect on seed yield per plant per plant was exerted by harvest index per plant followed by biological yield and negative direct effect on seed yield / plant was exhibited by number of siliqua per plant followed by length of siliqua, days to 50% flowering, number of secondary and number of primary branches. Diversity among clusters varied from 11.87 to 33.28.The highest intra-cluster distance was recorded in cluster II The genotypes falling in these clusters could be utilized for hybridization programme in Indian mustard.

Characterization of the Genetic Variability in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and its Assessment Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

Present investigation was conducted to estimate genetic parameters such as Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV), Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV), heritability and Genetic Advance (GA) along with correlations, path coefficients, Genetic divergence and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) from data collected on 21 rice genotypes. The results revealed highly significant mean squares due to genotypes for all traits studied, indicating the existence of sufficient variation among the genotypes and therefore an ample scope for effective selection. High PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for 1000-grain weight, seed yield per plant, and harvest index, indicating the effectiveness of direct selection for improvement of these traits. Thousand grain weight and harvest index had recorded positive and significant association with seed yield per plant. The results on path analysis also revealed high and positive direct effect for harvest index followed by flag leaf width, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, panicle length, number of filled grains/panicle, number of spikelets/panicle and hence, these traits were identified as the most effective selection criteria for improvement of seed yield per plant in rice genotypes. The results on divergence analysis revealed that the genotypes were grouped into five clusters. Cluster I constituted maximum number of (17) genotypes. Maximum differences among the genotypes within the same cluster (intra-cluster) were shown by cluster I (18.33) followed by cluster II, III, IV, V showed zero intra -cluster distance. Cluster III and V (37.41) showed maximum inter cluster distance, suggesting that the genotypes constituted in these clusters may be used as parents for future hybridization programme. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was utilized to estimate the relative contribution of various traits for total variability. Five components were found to possess eigen value more than 1.00. The PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4 and PC5 contributed 31.2, 14.5, 12.6, 10.5 and 10.1 per cent of variability. Together, they accounted for 78.9% of the variability of the genotypes used in the study has revealed the traits contributing for the variation.

Genetic Diversity Analysis for Seed Yield and Its Component Characters in Urdbean (Vigna Mou (L.) Hper)

Forty-six genotypes were subjected to genetic diversity studies for seed yield and its component characters using Mahalanobis’s D2 statistic. The analysis of variance indicated significant differences among 46 genotypes for all the 14 characters. Forty-six genotypes were grouped into nine clusters, out of which cluster-II had the maximum number of genotypes (16), followed by cluster-III (10), cluster-I (9) and cluster- IV (6). The rest of the clusters i.e. cluster-V, VI, VII, VIII and IX, each possessed single genotype. The intercluster distances surpassed the intra-cluster distances, expressing existence of stupendous diversity among the entries. The cluster-III and IV have the greatest diversity among their genotypic groups consequently these genotypes can potentially be utilized in varietal development programmes. Highest inter-cluster distance was noted between cluster-IV and VII followed by cluster-VII and VIII, and cluster-VI and VII, indicating ample of diversity available among them, Therefore, the genotypes of these clusters can be used as parents for crossing in hybridization programme to obtain desirable and excellent segregants. Protein content was the greatest contributor towards genetic divergence followed by number of clusters per plant and number of pods per cluster, suggesting direct selection of these characters. Bangladesh J. Bot. 51(2): 223-228, 2022 (June)

Variability, Correlation, Path Coefficient and Genetic Diversity Analysis in Indian Mustard

Phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation (PCV & GCV), heritability, genetic advance (GA), correlation, path and diversity analysis for fourteen characters in twenty-five genotypes of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) were evaluated for seed yield and thirteen other yield contributing traits. Genetic variability indicated that, the PCV was greater than GCV for all the traits studied was majorly due to the influence of environment. High heritability along with high genetic advance as percent of mean were recorded for plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, length of main raceme, number of siliqua on main raceme, number of siliqua per plant, 1000 seed weight, biological yield per plant, seed yield per plant and harvest index, Indicating the breeding improvement through direct selection. In correlation analysis, seed yield per plant had significant and positive correlation with number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches, number of siliqua on main raceme, number of siliqua per plant, length of siliqua, number of seeds per siliqua, 1000 seed weight, biological yield per plant and harvest index at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path coefficient analysis indicated that, the highest positive direct effects was noted for days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of siliqua per plant, number of seeds per siliqua, length of main raceme, number of primary branches per plant, 1000 seed weight, biological yield per plant, harvest index. Therefore, these traits should be given more priority for selection in breeding programme. Genetic divergence assessed using D2 statistics for characters enabled grouping of all the genotypes in six clusters. Diversity among the clusters varied from 9.67 to 24.03 inter-cluster distances, cluster II and V showed maximum inter cluster distance followed by that between cluster V and VI. The genotypes falling in these clusters could be utilized for hybridization programme in Indian mustard.

Improvement of Fruit Pubescence and Fruiting Pattern among Pure Lines and Landrace of Okra (Abelmoschus spp.) through Interspecific Hybridization

The research study was aimed at improving fruit pubescence and growth pattern in the highly mucilaginous but very spiny local and wild okra variety - ‘Ele Ogwu’ through generic hybridization with selected glabrous conventional and early maturing varieties at the Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The hybrid seeds generated from their diallel crosses were selfed to generate the F2 seeds. Backcrosses (BC1 and BC2) were also made to the much improved and glabrous varieties. The parents, F1, F2 and BC genotypes were sown in an experimental field in a randomized complete block design and organoleptic assessment was done at harvest. The F2 hybrids from the crosses, ‘UHIE x CLM’ and ‘AGW x CLM’, yielded some smooth fruits; although most of the hybrids generated, exhibited intermediate smoothness, except for ‘OGW x UHIE’ and ‘OGW x LD88’ that exhibited high degree of spineness. Most of the F2 hybrids generated exhibited intermediate growth and fruiting pattern, except for ‘OGW x UHIE’ which showed indeterminate pattern. The Chi-square statistics for the F2 showed that fruit pubescence for the highly spiny landrace and the more glabrous improved ones was monogenically controlled with incomplete dominance, while growth pattern were polygenically controlled. The successful backcrosses obtained showed reduction in the proportion of fruits spininess and increased fruit determinate growth pattern. This hereby indicates the prospect of obtaining okra plants with glabrous, highly appealing and determinate growth pattern with early maturity from the local, wild spiny but mucilaginous, nutritious and high yielding local varieties through sustained hybridization programme.

Implementing a Hybrid Internship during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic institutions led to rapid shifts from person-to-person services to fully online services in the spring of 2020. These shifts presented unique challenges for graduate practicums and internships—experiences that bolster students’ job-preparedness before graduation. An internship at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Libraries in the United States, originally structured as face-to-face and hands-on, shifted to a hybrid experience in which a graduate student worked with two librarians through a combination of in-person and virtual meetings. The librarians aimed to implement a hybrid internship that provided as authentic and informative an experience for the intern as an in-person internship. This article discusses the planning and implementation of the hybrid internship. It highlights benefits to the intern, including the adaptability of the hybrid program, learning in multiple formats, and opportunities for networking, and the challenges of altering the original plan for the internship.

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Chickpea Genotypes (Cicer arietinum L.) for Seed Yield and Morpho-genetic Traits

Background: Based on D2 analysis 53 chickpea genotypes were grouped into seven clusters. Among the VII clusters, cluster I consists of 30 genotypes forming the largest cluster followed by cluster II with 16 genotypes, cluster VII with three genotypes and cluster III, IV, V and VI with one genotype each. Inter cluster distance were found to higher than intra cluster distance which depicted wide genetic diversity among the chickpea genotypes under study. Contribution of various characters towards expression of total genetic divergence indicated that seed yield (27.77%) contributed maximum (24.74%) followed by biological yield and number of pods per plant (20.43%). The clustering pattern of genotype demonstrated that clustering does not follow any particular cluster pattern with respect to origin. The pattern of cluster analysis of the first principal component had the largest eigenroot 4.18 per cent of total variation followed by 3.53, 2.91, 2.02, 1.45, 1.26 and 1.15 from second to seven principal components. The eigenroot of first principal component accounted for 19.91 per cent of total variation followed by second to seven principal components which accounted for 16.82, 13.84, 9.62, 6.90, 5.99 and 5.48 per cent of total variations present in the genotypes. Methods: The study was carried out at Pulses Research Sub-Station (PRSS), Samba and Advanced Center for Rain-fed Agriculture (ACRA), Rakh Dhiansar during Rabi seasons 2017-18 and 2018-19. The experimental material comprising of 48 chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes along with 5 checks were evaluated in augmented block design. Result: The genotypes of cluster II, V and VII had highest inter-cluster distances as well as higher cluster means for most of the yield component traits indicating that these genotypes were most diverse can be used as parents in hybridization programme of chickpea breeding. The variation present in the chickpea genotypes under study can be exploited through selection and hybridization among identified genotypes for breeding high yielding chickpea genotypes.

Response of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Genotypes for their Germination and early Seedling Parameters Grown Under Different Saline levels

Seedling establishment is a most critical stage that determined the crop production at later stages. An in vitro investigation was carried out at the Laboratory of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Sri Karan Narendra College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan) in Rabi season 2016-17 to study the response of fenugreek genotypes for their germination and early seedling parameters under five salt stress levels viz. 0.0 mM, 40 mM, 80 mM, 120 mM and 160 mM. Fifteen seeds of each genotype were sown in sterilized Petridish and seedling observations were recorded. Results revealed that the average value was found maximum in the control and minimum at higher salinity level for most of traits. Higher reduction was found at higher salinity levels for most of the characters viz., plumule length, radicle length, seedling length, plumule to radicle length ratio, plumule fresh weight, radicle fresh weight, plumule dry weight, radicle dry weight and seedling vigour index but germination percentage showed less reduction. The contrast between mean of various genotypes in control conditions (S0) versus Sm (mean of S1, S2, S3 and S4) for each character also showed that overall mean was highest in control as compared to the overall mean of salinity levels for all the traits. This investigation concluded that higher level of salinity (above 60 mM) adversely most affected to seed germination and other early seeding traits rather than (below 40 mM) lower salinity levels. Based upon the rank totals of genotype over different salinity levels S1, S2, S3 and S4 (Sm) and characters, the RMt-303 was found to be most desirable genotype followed by UM-385, RMt-143 and RMt-305. These lines would be used as a viable option under saline conditions and better exploit in hybridization programme.