Variation In Yield Research Articles

Comparative Chloroplast Genome Analysis in High-Yielding Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis

Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis, a species endemic to Yunnan, China, accounts for over 90% of Yunnan’s Pinus resin production. However, there is significant variation in resin yield among individuals, and molecular markers for identifying high-yielding individuals have yet to be developed. In this study, a comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genomes of P. kesiya var. langbianensis was conducted to perform a phylogenetic analysis and differentiate high-yielding individuals. Both high-yielding (HY) and low-yielding (LY) trees possess a typical quadripartite structure, with respective genome sizes of 119,812 bp and 119,780 bp. Each chloroplast genome contains 112 genes, including 72 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. Furthermore, HY and LY trees contain 30 and 34 SSRs, respectively, with mononucleotide repeats being predominant; neither genome exhibited trinucleotide or pentanucleotide repeats. Six highly variable regions were identified: trnI-CAU-psbA, trnH-GUG-trnI-CAU, rpl16, rrn4.5-rrn5, petG-petL, and psaJ. Phylogenetic analysis based on 72 Pinus species revealed that HY and LY trees clustered separately, with the HY tree grouping with P. kesiya and the LY tree with P. yunnanensis. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the molecular identification of high-yield P. kesiya var. langbianensis individuals and enriches the understanding of its phylogenetic relationships.

<b>Performance of Candidate Varieties of Basmati Rice in Uniform Yield Trials</b>

The primary focus of rice breeding research is now on developing high-yielding rice varieties with early maturing and physio-chemical features, such as improved cooking quality, aroma, and extra-long grain. This shift in focus is driven by the growing global demand for high-quality rice. Using traditional breeding methods to trait pyramid these extremely important traits while maintaining yield and quality is a challenging task. Good grain quality(aromatic), fertilizer responsiveness, and high-yielding varieties can help the farmers in Pakistan to increase their revenue despite global population growth and changing international market patterns. At the Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku (RRI KSK), new, improved, high-yielding, extra-long grain lines with the qualities of early maturity, small stature, and good cooking with aroma are being developed through traditional breeding methods. The present study aimed to assess the genetic variability of these lines in terms of paddy yield and to discover superior high-yielding cultivars suitable for widespread cultivation. There were notable variations in paddy yield among the different entries in the pooled analysis. The highest average paddy yield (5010 Kg/ha) was seen in entry 10640-10-1-1-1, followed by entry 10684-3-1-2 (4990 Kg/ha) and PK 10434-6-2-1 (4550 Kg/ha) and suggested for general cultivation based on their mean paddy yield. A strong positive correlation was seen between the grain thickness grading of over 2.2 mm and the number of panicles per plant. The overall quality of the Uniform Yield Trials of Fine rice samples can be reported as excellent for PK 10306-15-5, PK PB-8 and PK 10678-2-1-1 over check Basmati-515. There will be a simultaneous increase in grain yield with improvements in these qualities.

Yield variation and yield potential of organic arable crops in Finland derived from statistical data

This study aims to expand and diversify the analysis of crop yields in organic production by utilising the long-term statistical data reported by farmers. We examined the variation of the harvested yields of organic arable crops (season’s ad hoc harvest) on Finnish organic farms and determined the yield potential for different organic crops and in comparison, with conventional counterparts. When comparing median yields per ha, organic yields were on average 65% of conventional yields. The mean yield difference significantly differed between plant species. Among the analysed crops, faba bean performed best, gaining on average 84% of conventional yields, while organic cereals attained an average of 54–68% of conventional yields. The ratio of organic and conventional median yields was compared between geographical regions, and significant regional differences were found. The performance of organic cereals remained stable over the years, but the relative performance of the organic grain legumes, pea and faba bean, depended more on growing conditions. An average yield gap between the best-performing and medianfarms was 38% for organic farms and 28% for conventional farms. This indicates that Finnish organic farms have greater potential to improve the yield level than conventional farms.

Characterization of high-yielding aman rice genotypes through genetic and agronomic analysis

ABSTRACT Rice (Oryza sativa L.) holds immense global significance, serving as a staple food crop that sustains billions of people and supports livelihoods across diverse cultures and economies, including Bangladesh. For food security in Bangladesh, there is a significant demand for high-yielding Aman rice varieties. We assessed genetic variability of 16 Aman rice genotypes, including 11 promising Aman lines and 5 established Aman cultivars in Bangladesh, with the aim of identifying high-yielding genotypes through a three-year field experiment. The examined genotypes displayed notable variations in both yield and agronomic traits contributing to yield, as evidenced by their greater range of coefficients of variance and genetic variability components. Traits such as effective tillers per hill (ET), filled grains per panicle (FG), plant height (PH) at 80 days after transplanting, and panicle length (PL) demonstrated notable correlations with grain yield (GY) throughout the three-year evaluation. Moreover, the higher broad-sense heritability (H 2) observed in ET, FG, PH, and PL traits suggested a substantial influence of genetic factors on the variability of the Aman rice genotypes. Principal component analysis based biplot and heatmap analyses revealed that the advanced lines BU acc4 and BU acc5 had higher harvest index and relatively greater GY compared to the other Aman rice varieties. These promising Aman lines could prove to be valuable materials for future multi-location yield trials or ongoing and forthcoming breeding programs aimed at enhancing high-yielding Aman rice cultivars.

Analysis of Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Yield and Yield-related Traits of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Linseed is recognized as an excellent source of essential minerals, nutrients, and is particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), making it highly recommended for cardiovascular health. It is cultivated mainly for both linen and oil production, which is used for the production of paints, varnishes, and linoleum paste. The objective of the present investigation was to analyze genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for yield and yield traits among 75 linseed genotypes including ten checks using Randomized Block Design with three replications at Oilseeds Research Farm, Kalyanpur, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, (India) during Rabi season 2019-20. Analysis of variance revealed significant variation across all studied traits. The genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) ranged from low to high, with the lowest GCV and PCV observed for days to maturity, number of seeds per capsule, and days to 50% flowering. Conversely, the highest GCV and PCV values were recorded for seed yield per plant (g), number of capsules per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, and plant height. All traits recorded the highest heritability. High heritability and genetic advance were recorded for seed yield per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, plant height, thousand seed weight, number of primary branches and oil content, indicating the presence of additive gene action for these characters. In conclusion, the genotypes studied show significant genetic variation for yield and its attributes, which should be leveraged in future breeding programs.

Optimizing multi-environment trials in the Southern US Rice belt via smart-climate-soil prediction-based models and economic importance

Rice breeding programs globally have worked to release increasingly productive and climate-smart cultivars, but the genetic gains have been limited for some reasons. One is the capacity for field phenotyping, which presents elevated costs and an unclear approach to defining the number and allocation of multi-environmental trials (MET). To address this challenge, we used soil information and ten years of historical weather data from the USA rice belt, which was translated into rice response based on the rice cardinal temperatures and crop stages. Next, we eliminated those highly correlated Environmental Covariates (ECs) (>0.95) and applied a supervised algorithm for feature selection using two years of data (2021-22) and 25 genotypes evaluated for grain yield in 18 representative locations in the Southern USA. To test the trials’ optimization, we performed the joint analysis using prediction-based models in four different scenarios: i) considering trials as non-related, ii) including the environmental relationship matrix calculated from ECs, iii) within clusters; iv) sampling one location per cluster. Finally, we weigh the trial’s allocation considering the counties’ economic importance and the environmental group to which they belong. Our findings show that eight ECs explained 58% of grain yield variation across sites and 53% of the observed genotype-by-environment interaction. Moreover, it is possible to reduce 28% the number of locations without significant loss in accuracy. Furthermore, the US Rice belt comprises four clusters, with economic importance varying from 13 to 45%. These results will help us better allocate trials in advance and reduce costs without penalizing accuracy.

Genetic Potential of Sesame: A Study on Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate 140 genotypes of sesame germplasms along with five check varieties to assess heritability, variability, and genetic advance for yield and yield-related agronomic characters, with the goal of improving yield potential through breeding programs. Study Design: The evaluation was conducted using an augmented design with four blocks during the kharif season of 2021. Methodology: The investigation took place at the S.K.N. College of Agriculture's institutional farm during the kharif season of 2021, utilizing 140 sesame germplasm lines and five check varieties from ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources. The germplasm was evaluated in an Augmented Design with each line planted in a 4-meter row, organized across four blocks, and standard agronomic practices were followed to ensure healthy crop development. Results: Significant differences among the germplasm lines were observed for days to 50 percent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, capsule-bearing length, capsules per plant, seeds per capsule, branches per plant, capsule length, chlorophyll content, test weight, and seed yield. This indicates substantial variability among the germplasm lines. Traits such as seed yield per plant, capsules per plant, and primary branches per plant exhibited high phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean was noted for seed yield per plant, capsules per plant, primary branches per plant, and test weight, suggesting the influence of additive gene action, thereby making simple selection effective for improving these traits. Conclusion: The evaluation of sesame germplasms revealed significant variability for various yield and agronomic traits, with traits like seed yield per plant, capsules per plant, and primary branches per plant showing potential for improvement through breeding programs. High heritability and genetic advance suggest the influence of additive gene action, facilitating effective selection strategies for enhancing yield potential in sesame.

Exploring the demand for inter-annual storage for balancing wind energy variability in 100% renewable energy systems

As research in 100% renewable energy systems progresses, closing remaining research gaps, such as quantifying inter-annual balancing requirements, is necessary. For this study, inter-annual variations of wind power yield and the resulting balancing requirements are analysed for the energy transition towards 100% renewable energy of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The energy system components are determined and cost implications are quantified comparing two options for inter-annual storage: e-hydrogen and e-methane for a low, medium, and high security case, which are expanded over ten years. The results indicate that more than 300 TWhth,LHV and 500 TWhth,LHV of inter-annual gas storage capacity in 2050 for the low and the high security case, respectively are required. For both investigated cases, the annual system costs increase notably compared to the reference scenario without inter-annual storage. For the case of e-hydrogen, the annualised system costs increase by 19% compared to an increase of 7% for e-methane for medium security cases. The difference in cost growth is due to significantly higher hydrogen underground storage costs that overcompensate additional system costs for e-methane production. This study provides an expansion from seasonal to inter-annual storage and a first estimate of inter-annual balancing requirements and costs.

Growth, Yield and Quality Attributes of Determinate Tomato Genotypes in Parwanipur, Bara of Nepal

With the aim of identifying suitable open pollinated determinate tomato genotypes, investigation was carried out at Directorate of Agricultural Research (DoAR), Parwanipur in two consecutive winter seasons of 2020/21 and 2021/22. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 16 treatments and replicated thrice. Crop geometry was maintained 75×60 cm and fertilizers and manure was applied at the rate of 200:150:120 kg N: P2O5:K2O kg + 20 tons FYM per hectare. Analysis of results showed significant variation in yield and yield attributing characters among genotypes. The maximum plant height (75.67 cm) was recorded on genotypes AVTO 0301.The genotypes AVTO 1716 and AVTO 0301 showed significantly earlier to 50% flowering (45 days) while AVTO 1711 recorded shortest days to first harvest (81 days). The highest plant vigour (5 scales) showed by AVTO 1712, AVTO 0302 and Pusa Ruby check variety. The maximum fruit diameter (7.52 cm), length (6.54 cm) and fruit weight (49.9 g) recorded on genotype AVTO 1711. The highest number of fruits/ plant (56.7) and marketable yield (58.08 t ha-1) was recorded in AVTO 1610 and AVTO 1711 respectively. The genotype AVTO 1712 showed the highest firmness (1.92 kg cm-2) and Vitamin C (59.36 mg/ 100 g). The maximum pericarp thickness of fruits (7.43 mm) obtained on AVTO 1610. The genotype Pusa Ruby showed the maximum total soluble solid (5.6 Obrix) and Titratable acid 0.75 %. Similarly, the highest colorimetric value of a* (12.62) was recorded on Pusa Ruby and the highest value of b* (19.37) was found on AVTO 1713 while the highest value of L* (30.56) was observed on AVTO 171. Considering the overall performance, genotypes AVTO 1711, AVTO 1702 and AVTO 1712 were performed better in terms of the highest yield and other horticultural traits.

Performance of Black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) under Different Levels of Phosphorus at Bardiya, Nepal

A field experiment was conducted during the spring season of 2023 in Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality-7, Bardiya district to evaluate the performance of black gram at various levels of phosphorus. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisting of four treatments and five replications were used for the study. The treatments consisted of different levels of phosphorous viz. 0 Kg ha-1 (control), 20 Kg ha-1, 40 Kg ha-1 and 60 Kg ha-1. Black gram var. BLG 0093-1 was sown at spacing of 40 cm x 5 cm in the plots sized 8 m2. All the growth parameters and yield obtained from each treatment were compared at 5% level of significance. The results showed significantly greater number of branches (13.84), flower buds (11.33), root length (16.27 cm) and secondary roots (16.05) at 60 Kg phosphorus per ha followed by 40 Kg ha-1. However, plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, weight of pods per plant, biomass and grain yield showed non-significant results at similar levels of phosphorus (60 Kg ha-1). Though non-significant, higher number of fruiting branch, number of nodules, effective nodules, 1000 grain weight and harvest index were observed at 40 Kg ha-1 phosphorus. The findings suggested a gradual increase in the yield with increasing levels of phosphorus with the highest gross return from 60 Kg ha-1 phosphorus. However, since the variation in grain yield among the treatments was not significant, the cost involved with the 60 Kg ha-1 was greater as compared to 40 Kg ha-1 phosphorus, greater benefit was observed with the latter. So, on grounds of greater net return and better BC ratio, 40 Kg ha-1 phosphorus seems to be more profitable for the farmers.

Streamlined boiling lysis DNA extraction for Gram-positive aquaculture pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae.

Accurate genetic analysis is essential for the detection of pathogens as it necessitates suitable DNA extraction methods tailored to specific microorganisms such as Gram-positive bacteria. This study examined several commercial and simplified DNA extraction methods for their suitability in isothermal downstream applications. Extracted DNA was assessed using spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) while its stability was inspected after five months of storage. The findings revealed variations in DNA yield, purity and integrity among the extraction methods. While extraction kits demonstrated high yield and purity, the in-house extraction techniques showed incoherent correlation between yield and purity, yet showed promise for a streamlined extraction process. The DNA acquired from all methods yielded positive amplification in PCR and LAMP. DNA extracted by kits exhibits prolonged stability than those obtained via boiling lysis. Both methods offer distinct advantages, with commercial kits providing longer stability and high-quality DNA while boiling lysis stands out for its simplicity, with shorter handling and processing periods. This study emphasizes selecting ideal extraction methods for Streptococcus agalactiae, in the prospect of aquaculture settings. In particular, successful LAMP reaction suggests that boiled extracts are feasible enough for detection, and suited for point-of-care (POC) testing where prompt detection of aquatic pathogens is often critical. Ultimately, the choice of method should be contemplated on a case-by-case basis such as the study goals, intended settings, and type of samples.

Impacts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers on maize yields, nutrient use efficiency, and soil nutrient balance: Insights from a long-term diverse NPK omission experiment in the North China Plain

Context or problemSoil nutrient deficiency is one of the significant challenges in grain production, particularly nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These deficiencies not only reduce crop yields but also cause associated environmental issues, such as soil structure deterioration and ecosystem services diminution. ObjectivesThis research aimed to investigate the long-term effects of NPK fertilizers on soil nutrient properties and maize phenology, further on the grain yield, and to evaluate the nutrient use efficiency and soil nutrient balance under different fertilization managements. MethodsA long-term field experiment was initiated in 1990 in a summer maize field in the North China Plain, including five fertilizer treatments: CK (control), NP, NK, PK, and NPK. The soil nutrient properties, maize yields, crop nutrient uptake amount, nutrient recovery efficiency (NRE), nutrient harvest index (NHI), and soil nutrient balance were annually evaluated from 2005 to 2022. ResultsSignificant improvements in maize yields were found under NPK (9081 kg ha−1), NP (6426 kg ha−1), and PK (2668 kg ha−1) compared with CK (1809 kg ha−1) and NK (1656 kg ha−1). The yield increase was mainly attributed to: (1) enhancing in soil nutrient properties, such as soil organic carbon, soil total N (TN), available N (AN), total P (TP), available P (AP), and available K (AK), and (2) the shortened vegetative period, leading to greater sunshine hours (SH) and accumulative growing degree days (GDD) during the reproductive period. Furthermore, a random forest analysis quantified their importance to grain yield, showing that the edaphic factors (mainly SOC, TN, AK, AN, TP, AP, C:N, and N:P) explained a much greater proportion of yield variation compared with phenological factors (mainly GDD during tasseling and physiological maturity stages, and SH during tasseling stage). Additionally, the significantly higher response ratio of both N and P to NRE and NHI implied that N and P fertilizers having a more pronounced impact on improving nutrient use efficiency than K fertilizer. In terms of soil nutrient balance, a most relative soil nutrient balance was detected under NPK treatment, avoiding either substantial nutrient depletion or accumulation under any nutrient deficiency conditions. ConclusionsSoil deficiencies in N and P had more severe impacts on maize yields and nutrient use efficiency compared with K deficiency. Additionally, a balanced NPK fertilizer regime effectively managed soil nutrient balance. Implications or significanceThese findings elucidate the roles of N, P, and K fertilizers in maize production and soil nutrient conditions from a long-term field experiment, which could provide valuable insights for optimizing fertilization management strategies.

Study of the varietal behavior of 07 durum wheat varieties (Triticum durum Desf.) in the Oued Righ Valley (ITDAS Station)

Cereal production in the Oued Righ Valley is limited by several factors, including high temperatures and the salinity of irrigation water. These constraints cause significant variations in crop behavior and yield. This study aims to evaluate the performance of seven durum wheat varieties at the El Arfiane demonstration and seed production farm (ITDAS) in the Oued Righ Valley in the south East of Algeria. The evaluation focuses on morphological parameters and yield components To identify the variety or varieties that demonstrate favorable performance and yield, thus encouraging local farmers to cultivate them. The results of this study indicate significant differences in morphological parameters such as plant height, spike length, number of spikes per square meter, and number of grains per spike. However, other measured parameters, such as the number of tillers per plant, thousand-grain weight TGW, grain yield, and harvest index, The methodology employed in this study follows a completely randomized block design with three replications. The experimental design includes a set of experimental units arranged in blocks, with treatments randomly assigned within each block, hence the term "completely randomized block." Each treatment appears only once in each block. The blocks are typically placed contiguously to facilitate observations and task execution. This design is widely used in agronomy as it simplifies task execution and the comparison of treatments. Despite an acceptable thousand-grain weight this year, ranging from 37.06g for variety T4 to 27.6g for variety T1, the yields were low. The highest biological yield was 33.11 quintals per hectare for variety T5, while the lowest yield was 11.39 (T2) quintals per hectare. Several factors, including pigeon attacks and harvest losses, contributed to the reduced real yield.

Estimation of Genetic Variability for Yield and Its Component Traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present investigation was conducted with 12 chickpea genotypes, raised in randomized block design with three replications during the Rabi season 2023-2024 at at Organic Research Farm, Karguanji, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U.P.). The experiment was laid-out in randomized block design with three replications of the plant geometry was maintained at 30 cm x 10 cm. The present experimental material showed a wide range of phenotypic variation for number of seed per pod, number of primary branches per plant, biological yield per plant and seed yield per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and harvest index whereas, low phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for plant height, 100-seed weight, days to 50 per cent flowering and days to maturity as revealed by high values of Coefficient of Range. The estimates of high heritability coupled with high genetic advance expressed as a per cent of mean were observed for biological yield per plant, seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant manifesting the preponderance of additive gene action on the expression of these traits. In the investigation, genotypes viz., RSG-44 and Aruna were superior not only for seed yield per plant but also related traits like 100-seed weight, biological yield per plant, number of pods per plant and number of primary branches per plant.

The Impact of Major Ecological Projects on the Water Yield of Mountain Basins, Northern China

Water yield, one of the most valuable and important ecological indicators, reflects the renewable capacity of regional water resources. The Taihang Mountains are a natural ecological barrier and an important source of water production for the North China Plain. Two large-scale projects involving returning farmland to forest and grassland have significantly changed the distribution of land use in the Taihang Mountains, and also affect the water production characteristics of the Taihang Mountains. Taking the Hutuo River Basin, a typical river in the Taihang Mountainous region, as the study area, the InVEST model is utilized to calculate the spatial and temporal changes in water yield capacity in the Hutuo River basin, and four scenarios were set to judge the impact of different ecological projects on the water yield of the mountainous watershed of the Hutuo River. The results showed that the water yield in the five study periods was 218.58–376.44 mm. The interannual variations in both precipitation and water yield of the study area in the last decade were large. The water yield is mainly concentrated in the northeast region of the upper reaches of the basin, and the smallest is the northwest and central regions of the upper reaches. The water yield in each year in the study area is mainly less than 400 mm, accounting for more than 60% of the study area, and the water yield has shown a large regional expansion in the past 10 years. Grassland has the largest water yield capacity of all land use types, and climate change has basically no effect on the water yield capacity of different land use types. The ecological project of returning farmland to forestland has a negative impact on the water yield capacity, whereas the water yield capacity increases after returning farmland to grassland. The water conservancy project of river training has a negative impact on the water yield capacity of the Hutuo River mountainous basin. The research results provide theoretical data for judging the relationship between vegetation restoration and water yield in mountainous watersheds, a scientific basis for evaluating the implementation effect of major projects, and strong data support for water resource management in the North China Plain.

Unveiling the genetic variability, character association and principal component analysis for yield and yield contributing traits in brinjal (Solanum melongena) genotypes

The experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2023 and 2024 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu to assess 45 brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) genotypes for growth and yield related parameters. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The result showed high genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) values for plant height, number of primary branches/plant, length of fruit and weight of fruit and yield/plant. Whereas, the traits such as days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, fruit girth, fruit borer infestation and number of fruits/ plant exhibited medium GCV and PCV values. The registered high heritability values ranged from 94.29–99.49% and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean ranged from 19.25–70.25%. Correlation analysis on number of fruits/ plant showed positive and significant association with fruit yield/plant. Principal component analysis showed four principal components with eigen values of unity and accounted for 75.81% of total variance.

Productive Poplar Genotypes Exhibited Temporally Stable Low Stem Embolism Resistance and Hydraulic Resistance Segmentation at the Stem-Leaf Transition.

Breeding tree genotypes that are both productive and drought-resistant is a primary goal in forestry. However, the relationships between plant hydraulics and yield at the genotype level, and their temporal stabilities, remain unclear. We selected six poplar genotypes from I-101 (Populus alba) × 84 K (P. alba × Popolus tremula var. glandulosa) for experiments in the first and fourth years after planting in a common garden. Measurements included stem embolism resistance, shoot hydraulic resistance and its partitioning between stems and leaves, vessel- and pit-level anatomy, leaf carbon acquisition capacity, carbon allocation to leaves, and aboveground biomass (yield proxy). Significant genetic variations in hydraulic properties and yield were found among genotypes in both years. Productive genotypes had wide vessels, large thin pit membranes, small pit apertures, and shallow pit chambers. Hydraulic resistance was negatively correlated with yield, enabling high stomatal conductance and assimilation rates. Productive genotypes allocated less aboveground carbon and hydraulic resistance to leaves. Temporally stable trade-offs between stem embolism resistance and yield, and between hydraulic segmentation and yield, were identified. These findings highlight the tight link between hydraulic function and yield and suggest that stable trade-offs may challenge breeding poplar genotypes that are both productive and drought-resistant.

Inter and intra cross variability analysis in F3 generation of mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek

Abstract The present investigation was conducted to evaluate 12 crosses of mungbean genotypes for 11 characters to access the extent of genetic variability and to comprehend the heritable aspect of variation for grain yield and its related characters. All the 12 crosses were raised in a compact family block design with three replications in two environments during the kharif season of 2022. The analysis of variance indicated significant variations among the families for grain yield and all other characters in both environments. Conversely, differences among the progenies within a family varied depending on specific trait and environment (E1) to environment (E2). Inter cross variability revealed high GCV and PCV for primary branches per plant in both environments. High estimates of PCV were recorded for pods per plant and grain yield per plant in both environments and for clusters per plant in E2. High estimates of heritability were exhibited by primary branches per plant in both the environments and plant height in E1. High estimates of genetic advance as per cent of mean were observed for primary branches per plant and plant height in both environments. Inter cross variability revealed that the highest magnitude of heritability was recorded by family C1 and C7 for grain yield per plant in E1 and E2 respectively. The highest magnitude of genetic advance as per cent of mean was exhibited by family C3 for primary branches per plant in E1 and by family C12 for clusters per plant in E2. Keywords: Genetic variability, Inter cross variability, Heritability, Mungbean

Genotype by environment interaction across water regimes in relation to cropping season response of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa).

Genotype × environment (GxE) interaction effects are one of the major challenges in identifying cultivars with stable performance across agri-environments. In this study we analysed GE interactions to identify quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) cultivars with high and stable yields under different soil moisture regimes, representing control conditions, waterlogging and drought. Waterlogging and drought treatments were artificially induced using normoxia, a combination of hypoxia-normoxia, and 10% PEG (Polyethylene glycol) under hydroponic growth conditions, respectively. Both waterlogging and drought conditions significantly reduced the plant height (PH), number of leaves (NoL) and number of branches (NoB), stem diameter (SD), leaf area (LA) and dry weight (DW) of quinoa genotypes. The genotype, water regime, and genotype by water regime effects all significantly affected the measured quinoa traits. Based on the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model for DW, the genotypes G18, Puno, Q4, 2-Want, Puno, Real1 x Ruy937 and Titicaca were found to exhibit tolerance and were stable across water regimes. A second-stage evaluation was conducted to test genotype × environment interaction effects in crop production field trials, selecting two contrasting seasons based on soil moisture conditions involving a diverse set of genotypes (58 varieties in total). Our results demonstrate significant variations in both growth and yield among the quinoa genotypes across the cropping seasons. The GGE analysis for grain yield indicate that field conditions matched to G × E under hydroponic experimental conditions and the cultivars G18, Q1, Q4, NL-3, G28, 42-Test, Atlas and 59-ALC were classified within a range of high productivity. Our findings provide a basis for understanding the mechanisms of wide adaptation, while identifying germplasm that enhances the water stress tolerance of quinoa cultivars at early growth stages.

Variability and Correlation Studies in Dolichos bean (Dolichos lablab L.)

Background: Dolichos bean (Dolichos lablab L.), 2n = 22 is an important leguminous vegetable crop which provides protein, minerals and vitamins. The exploitation of variability is of great importance and is a prerequisite for the effective screening of superior genotypes. Keeping this in view, the present investigation was carried out to assess the variability and correlation for yield and other components which are useful to select the promising genotypes. Methods: The study on variability and correlation in Dolichos Bean genotypes for yield and quality was conducted at the College Orchard, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Twenty lablab genotypes, sourced from various locations, were planted in a randomized block design with three replications during the kharif and rabi seasons of 2021 and 2022. Observations on growth, yield and quality traits were recorded and analysed for variance, variability and correlations. Result: In the kharif season, Ankur Gold yielded the highest green pods per plant (487.50 g), while Acc.7 yielded the lowest (89.59 g). In the pooled analysis, Ankur Gold (469.80 g) had the highest and Acc.6 (87.49 g) had the lowest green pod yield per plant. The study suggests using a selection index based on the number of racemes per plant, raceme length, number of pods per plant, green pod yield per plant and pod length to identify high yielding lablab genotypes.