Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (TolCNDV) causes yellow mosaic disease, which poses a significant biotic constraint for sponge gourd cultivation, potentially resulting in crop loss of up to 100%. In the present investigation, 50 diverse genotypes were screened for 3 years under natural epiphytotic conditions. A subset of 20 genotypes was further evaluated across four different environments. The combined analysis of variance revealed a significant genotype × environment interaction. Eight genotypes consistently exhibited high and stable resistance in the preliminary screening and multi-environment testing. Furthermore, genotype plus genotype × environment interaction biplot analysis identified DSG-29 (G-3), DSG-7 (G-2), DSG-6 (G-1), and DSGVRL-18 (G-6) as the desirable genotypes, which have stable resistance and better yield potential even under diseased conditions. The genotype by yield × trait biplot analysis and multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index analysis further validated the potential of these genotypes for combining higher yield and other desirable traits with higher resistance levels. Additionally, resistant genotypes exhibited higher activities of defense-related enzymes as compared to susceptible genotypes. Thus, genotypes identified in our study will serve as a valuable genetic resource for carrying out future resistance breeding programs in sponge gourd against ToLCNDV.

Gene effects associated with earliness and yield-related traits offer an advantage in the selection ofappropriate breeding strategies to bring improvement of fruit yield in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Therefore,a generation mean analysis study was conducted to investigate the gene effects present in traits like plantheight, days to first female flower, number of female flower-bearing nodes, number of lateral branches, daystook to first fruit harvest, fruit length fruit and fruit width using three cross combinations viz., Pusa Barkha ×Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6, Pusa Uday × Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6 and Punjab Naveen × PusaParthenocarpic Cucumber-6. All six generations P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1P1 and BC2P2 were developed. Scaling testresults indicated that the simple additive-dominance model is inefficient to describe gene effects in all threecrosses and interallelic interactions are present for all traits under study. Additive gene effects were significantin at least one cross out of three crosses for all traits under study except the number of lateral branches and fruitwidth. In cross Punjab Naveen × Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6, a significant negative dominant gene effectwas recorded for days to the first female flower and days took to first fruit harvest which indicates earliness inthis cross combination. For the number of female flower-bearing nodes, significant positive dominant effectswere present in cross combinations of Pusa Barkha × Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6 and Pusa Uday × PusaParthenocarpic Cucumber-6. For fruit length, Punjab Naveen × Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6 combinationpossessed significant additive gene effect which can be tapped through a simple selection procedure

This study aimed to develop a long-term pollen storage protocol for Luffa species (L. acutangula, L. cylindrica, L. echinata, and L. graveolens) and assess its potential for crop improvement. The optimal medium for in vitro pollen germination varied by species, with Brewbaker and Kwack (BK) medium with 10% sucrose suitable for L. acutangula, L. cylindrica, and L. echinata, and BK medium with 3% sucrose ideal for L. graveolens. Overestimation in staining tests compared to in vitro pollen germination was observed. The best results for cryopreservation were achieved with desiccation periods of 20, 30, and 40 min, maintaining moisture content between 14.04% and 18.55%. Pollen viability was negatively correlated with storage temperature (25, 4, and −20°C) and duration. Cryopreserved pollen at −196°C exhibited the highest viability over a prolonged period (2 months) and was comparable to fresh pollen in terms of germination, ovule fertilization, and fruit and seed set. This study presents a simple and reproducible pollen cryopreservation protocol applicable across Luffa species, facilitating long-term storage and its use in crop improvement efforts.

Comprehending general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) is pivotal in maize breeding for successful hybrid development. GCA signifies the overall genetic worth of a parent, while SCA demonstrates unique interactions between parents. In instances where GCA variances surpass SCA variances, early assessments become more effective, enabling the anticipation of superior hybrids based on parental GCA impacts. Assessing the combining ability of maize becomes increasingly crucial with escalating temperatures, which can adversely affect maize growth and crop yield. Research conducted in Prayagraj involved utilizing 7x7 half diallel crosses of maize initially developed during the Rabi 2022 season, followed by their subsequent planting in a randomized block design (RBD) during spring 2023. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects exhibited by the parents and hybrids, respectively, in order to identify superior-performing parents and hybrids among them. The results showcased strong positive GCA in MILCT-145F (P7) and MILC-2050 (P6), while specific heat-tolerant hybrids, such as P7xP1, P6xP2 exhibited outstanding performance in grain yield and other associated traits.

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) an extremely self pollinated, annual herb of Fabaceae family comprising each wild (Pisum fulvum & Pisum elatius) and cultivated species (Pisum abyssinicum). A glorious supply of dietary protein particularly essential lysine amino acid in its pods. Offseason peas holds nice economic potential however suffer on productivity front. Yield could be a complicated polygenic trait; its improvement is feasible through identification of contributory traits. With the aim to find out yield contributing traits thirty one diverse pea genotypes were morphologically evaluated. Evaluation was done in mid hill conditions of western Himalayan range during Rabi season of 2014-15. Loading of various variables supporting first principle component indicated that node at which first flower appear (NF), Number of pods per plant (NP), Number of seeds per pod (NS) and yield (Y) were the main components of divergence between 31 pea genotypes. Multiple linear regression model indicated that yield per plot might be well predicted with assistance of variables like number of pods per plant (NP), weight of 100pods (WH).

The experimental evaluation was done in mid hill conditions of western Himalayan range during Rabi season of 2014-15. Forty three genotypes including two check cultivars were evaluated for different horticultural traits. Among studied genotypes 14/PMVAR-3, 14/PEVAR-6, 14/PEVAR-2, 14/PMVAR-1 and EC-598628 were reported superior over other entries and standard checks for yield, quality and other important horticultural traits. 14/PMVAR-3 was found superior to checks for most of studied traits viz. number of pods per plant(12.43), pod length (9.23cm), pod width (1.62cm), number of seeds per pod (8.93), shelling percentage (66.18per cent), weight of 100 pods (480g), pod yield (5.77kg/plot), pod yield (128.22q/ha) and total soluble solids (18.50per cent). Genotype 14/PMVAR-1 (3.18) had recorded yield comparable to check cultivar and also showed moderately resistant reaction to powdery mildew disease. In the present study 3 genotypes were found earliest among all genotypes and can be involved in breeding programmes to develop early cultivars in pea. Two genotypes were found superior to yield and yield contributing traits when compared with the performance of the check cultivars in the present study.

The present investigation was carried out to estimate the extent genetic variability and character association for fruit yield and nine mineral nutrients (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and selenium) in 76 genotypes of pumpkin during spring–summer season of the year 2014. The experimental results revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits under study. Based on mean performance, the genotypes DPU-6, DPU-26 and DPU-51-3 were found most promising for different mineral nutrients and fruit yield per plant. Further, high heritability estimates coupled with high genetic gain were observed for all the traits under study, which indicated that these traits are under additive gene effects and are more reliable for effective selection. The correlation coefficients (phenotypic and genotypic) among different minerals along with fruit yield per plant depict that fruit yield per plant has significantly positive association with calcium (0.187 and 0.216) and magnesium (0.149 and 0.155) content. Path coefficient analysis at genotypic level revealed that iron has maximum positive direct effect (0.374) on marketable fruit yield per plant, followed by calcium (0.198) and copper (0.037). Besides, maximum positive indirect effect of manganese (0.331) and copper (0.265) via iron was observed on the fruit yield per plant.

A total of 76 pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir.) genotypes, purified and maintained as inbreds at Division of Vegetable Science, IARI were morphologically characterized for 21 different traits over two consecutive seasons (spring-summer 2013, 2014) as per DUS guidelines of PPV and FRA. Out of 21 morphological characters under study 14 were assessed visually and seven were measured. All genotypes were grouped into different categories on the basis of these morphological descriptors. With respect to fruit shape at physiological maturity all studied genotypes were observed to have either spherical (CM-350, Punjab Samrat and 25 genotypes) round flat (11 genotypes), oval/oblong oval (Pusa Vishwas and 12 genotypes), oval spherical (DPU-52, DPU-57, and DPU-75 genotypes), oblong cylindrical (DPU-26), flattish round (Kashi Harit and 14 genotypes), flattish (DPU-22, DPU-27, DPU-76), club (DPU- 35), cylindrical (DPU-58) or heart shape (DPU- 80) fruits. Most of the genotypes under study were grouped into medium category on the basis of their fruit length, fruit thickness, fruit diameter, seed length and seed width. On the basis of fruit skin colour at immature stage, genotypes were grouped into four groups i.e. dark green, medium green, light green and cream coloured with 15, 38, 21 and two genotypes in each group, respectively. With respect to fruit skin colour pattern genotypes were grouped into uniform, striped and mottled categories. Fruit flesh colour was observed either as orange, light orange, yellowish orange, cream white, dark orange, orange yellow, yellow orange with green overcast, light orange with green overcast, dark orange yellow, and dark yellow orange with greenish overcast. All studied characters can be used as grouping traits. The expression of studied characters remained consistent over two consecutive seasons indicating their uniformity. These studied genotypes can be successfully utilized as reference material for protection of other varieties under PPV and FR Act.

Seed is the very important input factor in any crop production programme as the success or failure of any crop mainlydepends on the quality of seed. The present investigation was carried out to estimate the extent genetic variability, character association and divergence for seed yield and related traits in 76 genotypes of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir). The experimental results revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits under study. On the basis of mean performance for different seed traits, the genotypes DPU-6, DPU-51-3, DPU-57 and DPU-24 were found most promising. Further, high heritability estimates coupled with high genetic gain were observed for all the seed traits under study, which indicated that these traits are under additive gene effects and are more reliable for effective selection. The maximum PCV and GCV were observed for seed yield/plant (g) followed by 100 seed weight (g), seed area (mm2) reflecting presence of high genetic variability among all the genotypes for studied characters. Further, the experimental results revealed that seed area followed by seed yield per plant and 100 seed weight had maximum positive direct effect on fruit yield per plant. The maximum positive indirect effect of seed breadth, seed length, 100 seed weight and seed yield/plant via seed area was observed on fruit yield per plant.The genetic divergence observed among seventy six diverse genotypes of pumpkin revealed considerable diversity for seed traits. In the present investigation, the cluster I and cluster IV were found more divergent (9.864) and have chances of getting transgressive segregants in F2 from crossing of genotypes from cluster I and cluster IV. Therefore,hybridization between these groups can be very effective for improvement of seed yield in pumpkin.

Pea is a member of Fabaceae family, placed under genus Pisum (2n=2x=14) and comprises both the wild (P. fulvum and P. elatius) and cultivated species (P. abyssinicum, P. sativum). It is predominantly a self pollinated, annual herb having climbing or bush type growth habit. It is an important cash crop in the hilly regions of western Himalayas especially for the growers of Himachal Pradesh having acreage of 23.67 thousand hectares with annual production of 280.23 thousand metric tonnes [1]. Peas from hilly areas are available at a time when it can’t be grown in plains of adjoining states due to higher temperature; have high consumer preference because of their characteristic flavour, sweetness, freshness and good quality. Beside its high economic importance productivity per unit area is still low which is more prevalent and common in offseason production. Amongst major constraints, lack of varieties with high

Genome editing through efficient and versatile bacterial immunity based CRISPR Cas9 system has revolutionized the molecular biology. Every day new achievements in basic and applied research using CRISPR are coming in. Here, we review the some of the important advancements in methods to increase its efficiency in site-specific genome editing and achievements in crop improvement researches. It is expected from this review that it will provide recent updates on the CRISPR-Cas9 system and will help users involved in applied researches in plant biology to make them exploit the full potential of this genome editing tool.