Pure Line Selection Research Articles

Genetic inheritance studies in rice (Oryza sativa L.) for grain protein, quality and yield

The present study was undertaken to investigate the genetic parameters of yield component and quality traits of the F3 population from BPT 5204 and JAK-686 cross in rice. High heritability and high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean were recorded for productive tillers per plant, grains per panicle, panicle length and grain yield per plant indicating the effectiveness of direct phenotypic selection for improvement of these traits. For traits such as grains per panicle, 1000 grain weight, amylose content and grain protein content, the magnitude of additive (d) effects surpassed dominance (h) gene effects. This implies that phenotypic selection using methods like pureline selection, mass selection would be beneficial. Gel consistency exhibited complimentary gene interaction. Furthermore, duplicate gene interaction was prevalent in traits like days to 50% flowering, productive tillers per plant, plant height, panicle length, grain yield per plant, kernel length, kernel breadth, and kernel L/B ratio, making selection in later generations more effective. The inheritance studies highlighted the importance of selecting desired recombinants from the segregating population to enhance rice quality as well as grain yield. Keywords: Rice, Grain protein content, Quality, Variability, Heritability, Gene action

Improving Pepper Inbreds for Resistance to Pepper Yellow Leaf Curl Thailand Virus (PepYLCTHV) through Challenged Inoculations

Chili peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are an economically important crop worldwide. Pepper yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (PepYLCTHV), a Begomovirus causing yellow leaf mosaic disease of chili pepper, has been reported to incur 95% economic loss under epiphytotic conditions. Thirty-one chili genotypes were screened for resistance to PepYLCTHV disease through inoculation using 10–15 viruliferous whiteflies per plant. We purified two resistant lines (PEP6 and PEP12) through four generations of selfing and selection. At 28 days after inoculations, two chili genotypes (PEP6 and PEP12) had low disease severity and percentage of disease incidence (DI) compared to four susceptible checks, viz., Yodsonkeam80, Homsupan, Huareau12, and Pong Charian, which had a disease severity score of 5 with 100% DI. Thirty initial plants of PEP6 showed an average disease severity of 3.64 with 69.33% DI, and PEP12 showed an average disease severity of 3.83 with 77.67% DI. From these populations, we selected nine highly resistant plant of PEP6 and seven plants of PEP12 having a disease severity of 0 through pure-line selection for four selfing generations. The ratio of resistance (R) to susceptibility (S) consequently decreased. In PEP6, the ratio decreased from 1R:2S to 1R:1S, while in PEP12 the ratio decreased from 1R:3S to 1R:1S. These lines have potential for release as resistant lines for improving chili pepper resistance to PepYLCTHV and for developing makers associated with the resistant trait.

Registration of ‘Black Pearl’ black bean

Abstract‘Black Pearl’ black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (Reg. no. CV‐362, PI 705445), developed by Michigan State University AgBioResearch, was released in 2023 as an upright, full‐season cultivar with anthracnose resistance and superior canning quality. Black Pearl was developed using pedigree breeding method to the F4 generation followed by pure line selection for disease, agronomic, and quality traits. In 5 years of field trials, Black Pearl yielded 3372 kg ha−1, flowered in 47 days, and matured in 98 days on average. Plants averaged 46 cm in height, with lodging resistance score of 1.8 and seed weight of 21.9 g 100 seed−1. Black Pearl combines high yield potential with upright architecture and full‐season maturity in a black seed type. Black Pearl has resistance to lodging and high pod placement within the plant making it suitable for direct harvest under narrow row production systems. Black Pearl is resistant to races 7 and 73 of anthracnose, resistant to Bean common mosaic virus, and has shown better resistance to Rhizoctonia root rot than other black bean cultivars. Black Pearl produces seed that meets industry standards for export and packaging and was rated the highest in canned bean color in the black bean market class.

Registration of ‘AuSable’ navy bean

Abstract‘AuSable’ (Reg. no. CV‐358, PI 705150) navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), developed by Michigan State University AgBioResearch was released in 2023 as an early‐mid season, disease‐resistant, upright, short‐vine bean cultivar with excellent dry down. AuSable was developed with the pedigree breeding method to the F4 generation followed by pure line selection for disease, agronomic, and quality traits. In 6 years of field trials, AuSable yielded 3073 kg ha−1, flowered in 46 days, and matured in 95 days on average. Plants averaged 45 cm in height, with a lodging resistance score of 1.7 and seed size of 22 g 100 seed−1. AuSable combines high yield potential with early midseason maturity in a navy bean seed type. AuSable has outyielded ‘Merlin’ by 17% across 6 years and matured 3 days earlier. It exhibits uniform dry down equivalent to ‘Vigilant’ and is well adapted to the intensively managed, narrow row, direct‐harvested production systems where beans are typically grown in Michigan and the Upper Midwest. AuSable possesses resistance to Bean common mosaic virus, is resistant to anthracnose races 7 and 73, has shown moderate tolerance to white mold, and was as tolerant to post emergence damping off caused by Rhizoctonia solani as other navy beans. It is susceptible to common bacterial blight. The seed size of AuSable (22 g 100 seed−1) is most similar to ‘Valiant’ and slightly smaller than ‘Liberty’ (23 g 100 seed−1). Seed of AuSable meets industry standards for packaging and canning quality in the navy bean seed class.

Registration of ‘Coral’ pink bean

Abstract‘Coral’ (Reg. no. CV‐359, PI 705151) pink bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), developed by Michigan State University AgBioResearch was released in 2022 as a midseason, disease‐resistant, upright short vine bean cultivar with uniform dry down. Coral was developed with the pedigree breeding method to the F4 generation followed by pure line selection for disease, agronomic, and quality traits. Coral combines high yield potential with midseason maturity in a pink bean seed type. Over the span of 6 years of field trials, Coral produced an average yield of 3228 kg ha−1, flowered at 46 days, and matured in 97 days. Plants averaged 48 cm in height, with a lodging resistance score of 1.4, and seed size of 42 g 100 seed−1. Notably, Coral has outperformed ‘Rosetta’ by 8% across the 6‐year trial period and reached maturity 1 day earlier. It is well adapted to the intensively managed, narrow‐row, direct‐harvested production systems where beans are typically grown in Michigan and the Upper Midwest. Coral exhibits resistance to Bean common mosaic virus, is susceptible to anthracnose, has shown tolerance to common bacterial blight, and white mold. Additionally, it demonstrated tolerance to root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani similar to Rosetta. Seed size of Coral (42 g 100 seed−1) is larger than Rosetta (37 g 100 seed−1). Seed of Coral meets industry standards for packaging and canning quality in the pink bean seed class.

Registration of ‘Denali’ white kidney bean

Abstract‘Denali’ (Reg. no. CV‐360, PI 705152) white kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), developed by Michigan State University AgBioResearch, was released in 2022 as a midseason, disease‐resistant, bush bean cultivar with uniform dry down. Denali was developed with the pedigree breeding method to the F4 generation followed by pure line selection for disease, agronomic, and quality traits. In 8 years of field trials across Michigan, Denali yielded 3500 kg ha−1, flowered in 37 d, and matured in 97days on average. Plants averaged 46 cm in height, with a lodging resistance score of 1.3 and seed size of 62 g 100 seed−1. Denali combines high yield potential with midseason maturity in a white kidney seed type. Denali outyielded ‘Beluga’ by 13% years and matured 5 days earlier. It is well adapted to the irrigated production systems on coarse‐textured soils where kidney beans are typically grown in Michigan and the Upper Midwest. Denali is resistant to Bean common mosaic virus and exhibits significantly higher levels of tolerance to root rot than ‘ND Whitetail’. Tolerance to common bacterial blight and white mold exhibited by Denali is comparable with ND Whitetail, ‘Yeti’, and ‘Snowdon’. Denali is susceptible to anthracnose. Seed size of Denali (0.62 g) is slightly smaller than Snowdon (0.69 g) and equivalent to seed produced by other white kidney bean cultivars. Seed of Denali meets industry standards for packaging and canning quality in the white kidney bean seed class.

Advances in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Breeding: Integrating Genomics for Enhanced Crop Improvement

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) holds significant importance as a vegetable crop, thriving in tropical and subtropical regions globally, especially in the warmer areas of temperate zones. Traditional breeding approaches tailored for self-pollinated crops have been utilized to enhance the genetic diversity of okra. These methods encompass various techniques such as plant introduction, pure line selection, hybridization combined with selection, mutation breeding, and heterosis breeding. Particularly in countries like India, pedigree selection and heterosis breeding have led to the development of numerous okra varieties and hybrids, significantly impacting local agricultural practices. Contemporary okra breeding focuses on traits crucial for optimal performance, including high yield potential, resistance to prevalent diseases like Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) and Okra Enation Leaf Curl Virus (OELCV), tolerance to sucking pests and borers, ease of harvest, deep green fruit coloration, and desirable plant architecture. Public sector institutions have played a pivotal role in introducing and disseminating improved okra varieties and hybrids, with more than 33 cultivars introduced in recent decades. Some of these varieties have demonstrated substantial improvements in okra production across India. This review offers an overview of the current state of okra breeding, encompassing genetic resources, cytogenetic relationships, breeding goals, varietal development processes, efforts in resistance breeding, biotechnological interventions, and future improvement strategies. By consolidating existing knowledge and highlighting ongoing research initiatives, this article aims to provide guidance and inspiration for further advancements in okra breeding and genomics, ultimately contributing to the sustainability and productivity of this essential vegetable crop.

Genetic Components Derived Parameters and Heterosis in Okra under Saudi Arabia Conditions.

Four parental genotypes of okra were crossed in complete diallel design to study the direction and extent of relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis for yield and its associated traits for utilization of existing genetic diversity to develop heterotic F1 hybrids in okra. The additive genetic component (D) was significant in all studied traits except average pod weight. Nonadditive (H1 and H2) components were found to be significant in all studied traits. However, the values of the dominant effect (H1) were smaller than the D components for no. of nodes/plant, no. of pods/plant, weight of medium pods, weight of large pods, and total fresh pod yield. The maximum significant MP heterosis in the desirable direction (149.9%) was recorded for the weight of large pods/plot. The maximum significant heterobeltiosis in the desirable direction (120.1%) was recorded for the weight of small pods/plot followed by total fresh pod yield (107.4%), the weight of large pods/plot (104.9%), weight of medium pods/plot (92.1%), average pod weight (51.8%), number of pods/plant (38.4%), and plant height (34.3%). It could be concluded that plant height, average pod weight, and the number of branches could be considered for the development of elite hybrids (heterosis breeding) or inbred lines (pure line selection) in succeeding generations. Therefore, these parameters can be considered for selecting genotypes to improve the pod yield of okra. The superior crosses identified through heterosis analysis were Egyptian Balady × Line 4.1.18 (30.8 ton/ha), Line 4.1.18 × Egyptian Balady (29.8 ton/ha), Dwarf Green Long Pod × Line 4.1.18 (28.3 ton/ha), and Egyptian Balady × Dwarf Green Long Pod (27.6 ton/ha) as these crosses had high performance as well as significant and higher estimates of heterobeltiosis for fruit yield per plant and yield attributing other characters.

Okra: Breeding and Genomics

Okra is an important vegetable crop cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of the world and in the warmer regions of the temperate zones. Its commercial cultivation is distributed exclusively across the various developing countries in Asia and Africa. The commonly cultivated okra is reported to a tetraploid species and has a very large and complex genome which hampers its speedy genetic improvement utilizing modern omics technology. Breeding methodologies suitable for self-pollinated crops have been often utilized for the genetic improvement of okra such as plant introduction, pure line selection, hybridization followed by selection, mutation breeding and heterosis breeding. Pedigree selection and heterosis breeding has been used by okra breeders which resulted in the development of lots of varieties and hybrids in India. In modern-day okra breeding along with high yield potential, multiple tolerance to YVMV, OELCV, sucking pest and borer, easy to harvest, dark green fruit color and ideal plant type are the major target traits. During the last few decades, different public sector institutions has developed and released as many as 33 improved varieties/hybrids for the benefit of the farming community across the country. Few of these varieties/hybrids have already made a noteworthy impact in okra production in India. This article reviewed the current status of okra breeding including genetic resources, cytogenetic relationship, breeding objectives, varietal development, resistance breeding, biotechnological intervention and its future improvement strategies.

Towards the Development of a Finger Millet (Elesine Coracana L. Gaertn) Breeding Programme in Zambia

Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn] is one of the potential cereals that can be used to mitigate climate resilience among the smallholder farmers who are the major growers. It has the capacity to adapt to extreme environmental conditions as well as grow under a wide range of wider agroecology, an advantage to other cereals, which can be capitalized in breeding. However, the breeding of finger millet in Zambia is constrained by the lack of knowledge on the genetic information, compared to other small grains cereal crops. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the diversity of mutant lines in the sixth generation. A pure line selection from a landrace finger millet variety Mutubila was sourced from the Sorghum and Millet Breeding Program of the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) in 2013. The seed was divided into four lots of 1 kg and subjected to gamma-ray mutagenic treatment at 0 (control), 100, 150 and 200 at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) in Lusaka in 2014. An equal amount of Irradiated seed (First mutation generation) from each dose was planted in Mpulungu during the off-season of 2013 in plots of 50m x 50m spacing 30cm intra row and 30cm inter rows. The second generation showed 99% plant survival with 0, 70% plant survival with 100, 10% plant survival with 150 and 0% plant survival with 200. Therefore, the subsequent segregating generations from 100 were used for selection. The mutant lines were selected from generations that were exposed to different culling rates as generations increased, after repeated selection 40 mutant lines were selected planted with six checks using an Alpha Lattice design with two replications and eight blocks, 48 genotypes were evaluated for agronomic performance. Results revealed that the mutant lines were diverse in the number of productive tillers per plant, main ear length that ranged from 3 to 15 and 4.4cenmetre to 14.5cenmtre respectively, while the number of fingers per gearhead and grain yield ranged from 3 to 17 and 0.58, to 2.5kilogram per hectare respectively. Productive number of tillers, Finger length, strawweight, and number of fingers were strongly and positively correlated to grain yield (R2 > 0.67). There were X clusters, the highest number of sub-clusters was (11) in cluster I. Maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters V and IV, V and VII, V and IX and VII and XI, indicating wider divergence among these clusters. The minimum inter-cluster distance was between II and III, VIII and X, I and VIII. Distant clusters indicated that the genotype present in one cluster differed completely from the one in the other clusters and thus could be used for generating superior genotypes. The study showed that selecting yield components as the mutants is advanced results in divergent lines, which can be recombined to breed high-yielding and disease-tolerant finger millet. We conclude, therefore, that mutation breeding for Finger Millet can be used to generate diversity, and divergent lines can be recombined to develop improved genotypes for commercialisation.

Seed yield improvement in navy bean: Registration of ‘ND Polar’

Abstract‘ND Polar’ (Reg. no. CV‐349, PI 700767) is a new navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar developed by the Dry Edible Bean Breeding Program at North Dakota State University and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. ND Polar was developed using a modified pedigree method (F1–F5), followed by pure line selection based on agronomic performance, disease resistance, and seed quality characteristics. With ∼16% of the total dry bean production in the United States, navy bean is the third most important market class after pinto and black. Accounting for 35% of the total production, North Dakota is the largest producer of dry bean in the United States. Between 2015 and 2021, ND Polar was tested across 23 environments in North Dakota, where seed yield was significantly higher than ‘HMS Medalist’, ‘Blizzard’, and ‘Ensign’ and similar to ‘T9905’. ND Polar is resistant to Bean common mosaic virus and has intermediate resistance to common bacterial blight. ND Polar has desirable upright architecture to facilitate direct harvest. Under North Dakota environments, ND Polar shows an average plant height of 52 cm, has a 100‐seed weight of 18.3 g, and matures in 102 days. Canning quality was rated as acceptable. Similar to the commercial checks, ND Polar is susceptible to local races/strains of the bean rust pathogen, anthracnose, and white mold. Other traits of agronomic and economic importance are within acceptable ranges.

The Practical Model and Evidence of Organic Evolution Opposite to Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection and Sexual Selection (Human Evolution)

Hybridization (breeding) is practical evidence and a model of Darwin’s theory. But it would be true, if hybridization between two plants or animal species is possible and produced a fertile, reproductively isolated offspring. However, hybridization between two plants or animal species is not possible due to structural, behavioural differences, and seasonal isolations. If imposed, the fertilization fails, if the fertilization is successful, the embryo may abort, or the young may die. If the hybrid is survived up to maturity, it must become sterile. However, a very rare case the hybrids become fertile but those produce so-called varieties /races only; those species that produce fertile hybrids (e.g. Indian cattle Bos indicus and European cattle Bos taurus) must merge into a species.to satisfy the modern definition of species. Moreover, the artificial selection is also a skilled sexual selection, as the breeders choose the fittest, most vigour, and most fertile/productive, beautiful, colourful ornamented organism. But breeders also failed to develop a reproductively isolated species/variety/race by Johnson’s pure line selection, cloning, genetic engineering and mutation breeding. Even, a new species is not evolved by the natural hybridization. Consequently, there is no evidence of evolution of a new species either artificially or naturally. So, recent research claims that sexual selection theory is fundamentally flawed and simply wrong. Hence, evolutionary biologists rejected sexual selection. Thus, sexual selection is opposite to the evolution of humans from the lower animal like a chimpanzee. It is assumed that macroevolution occurs through hybridization; so, such an assumption is not valid.

Breeding techniques to dispense higher genetic gains.

Plant breeding techniques encompass all the processes aimed at improving the genetic characteristics of a crop. It helps in achieving desirable characteristics like resistance to diseases and pests, tolerance to environmental stresses, higher yield and improved quality of the crop. This review article aims to describe and evaluate the current plant breeding techniques and novel methods. This qualitative review employs a comparative approach in exploring the different plant breeding techniques. Conventional plant breeding techniques were compared with modern ones to understand the advancements in plant biotechnology. Backcross breeding, mass selection, and pure-line selection were all discussed in conventional plant breeding for self-pollination and recurrent selection and hybridisation were employed for cross-pollinated crops. Modern techniques comprise of CRISPR Cas-9, high-throughput phenotyping, marker-assisted selection and genomic selection. Further, novel techniques were reviewed to gain more insight. An in-depth analysis of conventional and modern plant breeding has helped gain insight on the advantages and disadvantages of the two. Modern breeding techniques have an upper hand as they are more reliable and less time consuming. It is also more accurate as it is a genotype-based method. However, conventional breeding techniques are cost effective and require less expertise. Modern plant breeding has an upper hand as it uses genomics techniques. Techniques like QTL mapping, marker assisted breeding aid in selection of superior plants right at the seedling stage, which is impossible with conventional breeding. Unlike the conventional method, modern methods are capable of selecting recessive alleles by using different markers. Modern plant breeding is a science and therefore more reliable and accurate.

CHARACTERIZATION OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE TRAITS FOR DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT AND CORRELATION STUDIES IN FOXTAIL MILLET (SETARIA ITALICA (L.) BEAUV.)

A higher level of variability can be found in Nepalese foxtail millet. To assess potential traits for further breeding activities and estimate the genetic diversity, phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability, genetic advance, and correlation coefficient for 15 different genotypes of foxtail millet, an experiment was conducted in alpha lattice design with 3 replications at Agronomy farm of IAAS, Lamjung, Nepal during March- June 2021. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the accessions for all the traits observed indicating the presence of a sufficient amount of variability. The value of the Shannon index ranged from 0.245 (plant anthocyanin coloration of the basal sheath) to 1.309(grain color) which indicates that the characters were more diverse for grain color while the value of evenness ranged from 0.22 (plant: anthocyanin coloration of the basal sheath) to 0.965(panicle density) indicating that the characters are more evenly distributed for the intensity of green leaf foliage. High PCV, high GCV, high heritability, and high genetic advance per mean were found for flag leaf length, peduncle length, no. of nodes, and yield per hectare. It indicates that these traits are less influenced by the environment and hence can be exploited by pure line and mass selection methods for crop improvement. Yield per hectare was positively and significantly correlated with grain per panicle (r=0.4**) and no. of nodes (r=0.39**). A strong positive correlation was observed between plant height and the number of nodes, flag leaf width, panicle length, and flag leaf length indicating their consideration for further breeding activities. The findings of the study can be crucial in identifying better-performing genotypes that can help develop improved varieties

Comparison of bracket pot, tunnel, and vine rope planting system on pure line selection of oriental melon makuwauri

This study aimed to obtain the right planting system in a greenhouse-scale oriental makuwauri melon plant breeding program and knowing the interaction between the line and the oriental melon growing system at the greenhouse scale. The research design used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two factors, namely melon lines (ougan makuwauri and ginsen makuwauri), and planting systems (tunnel, bracket pot, and vines rope), repeated four times. Observational data were analyzed using analysis of variance and least significant different (LSD) test at 5% levels. The results showed that the best planting system is the bracket pot. This planting system has a unique and attractive appearance as well as more optimal growth compared to tunnel systems and vines rope. Based on the qualitative variable data tested, namely vine length (122.25 cm), stem diameter (0.79 cm), and petiole length (11.86 cm), the bracket pot planting system was significantly different from the tunnel and vines rope planting system. There was an interaction between the lines and the planting system on the observed variables, namely vine length, number of leaves, leaf width, leaf length, petiole length, and stem diameter. This research indicates that bracket pot planting system is recommended for oriental melon plant breeding program.

Characterization and evaluation of Greek tomato landraces for productivity and fruit quality traits related to sustainable low-input farming systems.

Tomato is one of the most important horticultural species all over the world, having high level of consumption and employing many people, both in the primary sector (farmers) and in the secondary sector (traders, seed companies and processors). Nowadays, the use of commercial tomato F1 hybrids tends to prevail because of high yield potential and homogeneity of fruits which are often characterized by lack of quality and sensory characteristics. In contrast, tomato landraces have outstanding quality traits, such as high concentration of antioxidants and organoleptic compounds, as well as often include desirable genes in their genome for adaptability, plasticity, response to low-input conditions, and high fruit nutritional value. Thus, they are appropriate material in the use of sustainable agricultural management systems or as gene donors for the development of new type of tomato cultivars suitable for low-input farming systems. The present experimental study refers to 22 Greek tomato landraces and two commercial cultivars (cv. Macedonia and the F1 hybrid Formula) used as controls, which were characterized by phenotypical markers and evaluated under low-input sustainable farming conditions. Specifically, during this research, measurements were taken regarding yield potential (early production, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, total yield) and fruit quality traits, such as physicochemical characteristics (pH, acidity, and soluble solid components - Brixο) also according to nutritional value (content of ascorbic acid, lycopene, total carotenoids, and total phenolics) of tomato fruits. In the most promising landraces (cv. Milo Chalkidiki, cv. Eratiras, cv. Lotos, cv. Aspros lotos, cv. Pantaroza, cv. Karabola and cv. Kardia Vodiou), having comparable yield and fruit quality traits with commercial cultivars, intrapopulation "Pure line selection" method, under low-input farming conditions was applied for two years. Following this approach, we succeed to determine the level of yield potential and provide information for the nutritive value and utilization of typical tomato landraces, improving their yield and fruit quality traits, following a mild intrapopulation selection under low-input farming conditions. This data pipeline is expected to be of interest for organic farmers and processors of high nutritive tomato products, with low carbon footprint for the environment.

Improvement of Local Speciality Rices as a Boon to Health, Wealth and Export Diversity: Case of Kalanamak Rice

A blessing from Lord Buddha some 3,000 years ago, and now a heritage rice of Uttar Pradesh, India is valued for its aroma, taste and nutritive quality. Its cultivation declined from 50,000 ha to less than 2,000 ha and was at the verge of extinction. No attention was paid for improving Kalanamak and it survived as landrace due to the mercy of the farmers. PRDF collected, catalogued and conserved 250 accessions of Kalanamak, and the best one, through Pureline selection, was released in 2007 and notified in 2010 as KN 3. Mutation breeding using gamma rays and EMS gave many academically interesting mutants but no high yielding dwarfs. Hybridization of KN 3 with Swarna Sub1 and Improved Sambha Mahsuri yielded varieties like Bauna Kalanamak 101, Bauna Kalanamak 102 and Kalanamak with shorter duration and 50% higher yield, released and notified in years 2016, 2017 and 2019 respectively. Protocol for organic production with higher yield was developed and certification under PGS arranged. Kalanamak is sugar-free with 49 to 52% Glycemic Index, 11% protein, 3 times higher Iron and 4 times higher Zinc. It is unique rice to have Vitamin A in form of Beta Carotene. Kalanamak is backed by Geographical Indication and PPV and FRA, and selling at five times higher price of common rice tripling farmers’ income. Now exported to Singapore, Nepal and Dubai has opened door to prosperity and added diversity to Basmati for export. This success story can be repeated for other land rices of speciality status.

Türkiye’ye Ait Yerel Ekmeklik Buğday Çeşitlerinden Seçilen Saf Hatlar ile Bazı Tescilli Çeşitlerin Tane Kalite Özelliklerinin Belirlenmesi

Bread wheat landraces are considered among important gene sources for quality breeding programs. This study aims to compare thousand kernel weight crude protein ratio, dry gluten ratio, grain hardness and zeleny sedimentation results of 20 bread wheat lines selected from landraces to 5 registered cultivars in order to determine future candidates for quality breeding programs. Field experiments were conducted in the consequent 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 growing seasons in Çanakkale (Türkiye), according to randomized complete block design with three replications. ANOVA results indicated significant difference among genotypes, means were compared with Duncan’s test. Additionally, genotype × growing season interaction were significant for all parameters. Results of cluster and PCA Biplot analysis revealed a significant and positive relationship between crude protein ratio and dry gluten ratio while allowing for the selection of superior landrace pure lines. Our findings suggested that bread wheat varieties had higher TKW compared to landrace pure lines when pure lines had higher crude protein ratio, dry gluten ratio, sedimentation value with generally softer grains. Bread wheat landraces were concluded as being important variation sources.

ATL 1: A high yielding kodo millet variety

A high yielding, input responsive, non lodging varagu culture TNPsc 176 was developed at the Centre of Excellence in Millets, Athiyandal. It is a pure line selection from DPS 63. It is characterized by tufty and medium tall plant stature, strong and sturdy culm with regular, long panicles. It has 10-15 productive tillers/plant and non-shattering grains on the panicle. It matures in 105-110 days and has recorded 2506 and 4394 kg/ha of grain and straw yield, respectively in a total of 223 trials under rainfed conditions during the past eight years of evaluation at national and state levels. The yield was observed to be 12.5 and 13.8 per cent increase in terms of grain and 15.5 and 13.0 per cent increase in terms of straw over the check varieties, CO3 and TNAU 86, respectively.  In view of the superior performance and desirable attributes viz., easy threshability, synchronized maturity, non-lodging growth habit, bold and attractive light brown-coloured grains with good nutritional and cooking qualities, the varagu culture TNPsc 176 was released as ATL 1 during the year 2021, for cultivation in Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Perambalur, Pudukottai, Salem, Vellore, Villupuram and Virudhunagar districts of Tamil Nadu. Keywords: Kodo, Varagu, yield, non lodging

Dapoli 3: A high yielding variety of finger millet

A high yielding mid-late duration culture DPLN 2 was developed at the Department of Agriculture Botany, College of Agriculture, Dapoli and released as Dapoli 3 during 2020 at the state level and notified by the ministry of Agriculture and farmer welfare, Department of Agriculture and farmer welfare with notification number CG-DL-E-04012022-232406 extraordinary part-II-section 3-subsection (ii) dated 24th Dec. 2021. Dapoli 3 has developed through pure line selection from local germplasm. Out of twenty one culture, the culture DPLN 2 was found promising in respect of yield over check Dapoli 1, Dapoli 2 and PR 202 in station, multilocation and adaptive research trials. It yields an average of 2405 kg/ha of grain under rainfed conditions. Besides high yield culture has semi compact earhead, uniform maturity, non-lodging, continuous spikelets, non-shattering with moderate protein (7.52 %) and calcium (264 ppm) content. The weight of earhead of culture is 8.9 g as compared to 7.2 g of Dapoli 1. The culture recorded a grain yield of 2405 kg/ha which was 26.64 per cent increase over the check Dapoli 1 (1899 kg/ha) in station trails. It recorded a grain yield of 2014  kg/ha which was 13.78 per cent increase over the check Dapoli 1 (1770 kg/ ha) in multilocation trials conducted during Kharif 2016 and 2017 at 13 locations whereas the mean grain yield recorded by culture DPLN 2 (was 1518 kg/ha) which was 12.19 per cent increase over check Dapoli 1(1353 kg/ha) in adaptive research trial conducted in Konkan and Goa region during Kharif 2019. It has given the mean yield of 3228 kg/ha which was 5.76 per cent increase over the national check GPU 45 (3052 kg/ha) and 12.98 per cent increase over the VL 376 (2857 kg/ha) in all India co-ordinated trails tested during kharif, 2019.  Keywords: Finger millet, yield, Semi compact, new variety