Utilization of crop wild relatives of wheat can be very effective in building the genetic diversity to cater to the evolving strains of disease pathogens. Aegilops speltoides is a rich source of rust resistance genes however transferring those to wheat genome can be tedious due to co-transfer and preferential transmission of undesirable genes causing gametocidal activity. Such an unholy association was observed in Triticum aestivum-Ae. speltoides derivative line Sel. 2427 which possess the broad-spectrum leaf rust seedling resistance gene (LrS2427). Molecular analysis based on 35 K wheat breeder’s array revealed the maximum percentage of Ae. speltoides genome introgression on homoeologous group 2. In situ hybridization studies revealed the presence of S genome in Sel. 2427, showing six translocations on four chromosomes. Karyotyping using repetitive probe (AAG)6 revealed that the two chromosomes involved are 2D and 2B. Genic regions causing gametocidal activity were identified by dissecting it into component traits and QTLs on 2D and 2B chromosomes were revealed in case of the trait seed shrivelling index. To break the inadvertent association of LrS2427 with gametocidal genes, F1(Agra Local X Sel. 2427) seeds were irradiated with gamma rays and stable leaf rust resistant mutants lacking gametocidal activity were developed. These mutants showed resistance to different races of leaf rust pathogen and showed superior agronomic performance as well. These mutants could be a great resource in wheat improvement for utilization of the leaf rust resistance gene LrS2427 without any yield penalty.

Hybrid development is one of the most promising strategies for boosting crop yields. Parental lines used to create hybrids must have good per se performance and disease resistance for developing superior hybrids. Indian wheat line HD3209 was developed by introducing the rust resistance genes Lr19/Sr25 into the background of popular wheat variety HD2932. The wheat line HD3209 carrying Lr19/Sr25 has been successfully and rapidly converted to the CMS line A-HD3209, with 96.01% background genome recovery, based on selection for agro-morphological traits, rust resistance, pollen sterility, and foreground and background analyses utilizing SSR markers. The converted CMS line A-HD3209 was completely sterile and nearly identical to the recurrent parent HD3209. Based on high per se performance and rust resistance, the study concludes that the derived CMS line A-HD3209 is promising and can be employed successfully in hybrid development.

The knowledge of pollen morphology, suitable storage condition, and species compatibility is vital for a successful grapevine improvement programme. Ten grape genotypes from three different species, viz., Vitis vinifera L., Vitis parviflora Roxb., and Vitis champini Planc., were studied for their pollen structure and pollen storage with the objective of determining their utilization in grape rootstock improvement programs. Pollen morphology was examined through the use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The viability of the pollen was assessed using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). In vitro pollen germination was investigated using the semi-solid medium with 10 % sucrose, 100 mg/L boric acid, and 300 mg/L calcium nitrate. The results revealed variations in pollen micro-morphology in 10 genotypes, with distinct pollen dimensions, shapes, and exine ornamentation. However, species-wise, no clear difference was found for these parameters. Pollen of V. parviflora Roxb. and Dogridge was acolporated and did not germinate. The remaining eight genotypes exhibited tricolporated pollen and showed satisfactory in vitro pollen germination. Storage temperature and duration interactions showed that, at room temperature, pollen of most of the grape genotypes can be stored for up to 1 day only with an acceptable pollen germination rate (>30 %). However, storage for up to 7 days was successfully achieved at 4 °C, except for ‘Pearl of Csaba’. The most effective storage conditions were found to be at −20 °C and −196 °C (in liquid N2), enabling pollen storage for a period of up to 30 days, and can be used for pollination to overcome the challenge of asynchronous flowering. Four interspecific combinations were studied for their compatibility, among which V. parviflora Roxb. × V. vinifera L. (Pusa Navrang) and V. parviflora Roxb. × V. champini Planc. (Salt Creek) showed high cross-compatibility, offering their potential use for grape rootstock breeding. However, V. parviflora Roxb. × V. vinifera L. (Male Hybrid) recorded the lowest compatibility index among studied crosses. In the case of self-pollinated flowers from V. parviflora Roxb. and V. parviflora Roxb. × V. champini Planc. (Dogridge), pollen failed to germinate on the stigma due to male sterility caused by acolporated pollen. As a result, the flowers of these genotypes functioned as females, which means they are ideal female parents for grape breeding without the need for the tedious process of emasculation.

Breeders have extensively used marker-assisted selection to improve the agronomically superior varieties for disease resistance. Here, the mega wheat variety of India, HD3086, has been improved for leaf rust resistance by transferring a leaf rust resistance gene LrTrk from Triticum turgidum var. durum cv. Trinakria (AABB, 2n = 4X = 28). Taking a tetraploid donor parent instead of a hexaploid produced partial sterility in initial generations, but fertility improved beyond BC2F1 generations and aided in the rapid and higher recovery of recurrent parent genomes. Leaf rust resistance gene LrTrk was selected in every backcross generation with the help of resistance gene linked markerXgwm234 and further confirmed by rust screening. Further, rigorous phenotypic selection of plants with rust resistance gene LrTrk for their phenotypic similarity to recurrent parent HD3086 in backcross generations helped us identify six homozygous NILs in BC2F3 generation. All six NILs carried more than 95% of the recurrent parent genome (RPG) when analyzed with polymorphic markers between the parents. The six NILs also showed no difference in the ago-morphological traits compared to RP HD3086. Out of six, one NIL, HD3086+LrTrk-2, was selected with numerically higher yielding than recurrent parent HD3086 and at par performance for all other traits. This NIL will be nominated in AICRP trials before being it to the farmer's field. The improved NIL will provide an alternative for the susceptible cultivar from the farmer's field and broaden the genetic base of wheat cultivars grown in India.

For a long time, phenol colour reaction on grains has piqued researchers'curiosity all around the world. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n=6x=42) and macaroni (T. turgidum subpp. durum [Desf.] Husn., 2n=4x=28) wheat products include colour as an important quality feature. Browning caused by polyphenol oxidase activity must be reduced or eliminated if wheat quality is to be improved. A study was, therefore, undertaken to identify different cultivated varieties with low phenol coloration and subsequently low phenol content at various stages of growth and maturity since its induction after flowering. A few wild species having diverse genomes were also studied to identify the potential donor for phenolic activity in grains. Results indicated that phenol colour was induced post-fertilization and phenol content increased with intensity of coloration. Generally, wild species showed higher phenolic activity than that in cultivated varieties. The information accrued may be useful in breeding low phenol content in wheat.

Wheat leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks is an important disease that causes yield losses of up to 40% in susceptible varieties. Tetraploid emmer wheat (T. turgidum ssp. Dicoccum), commonly called Khapli wheat in India, is known to have evolved from wild emmer (Triticum turgidum var. dicoccoides), and harbors a good number of leaf rust resistance genes. In the present study, we are reporting on the screening of one hundred and twenty-three dicoccum wheat germplasm accessions against the leaf rust pathotype 77-5. Among these, an average of 45.50% of the germplasms were resistant, 46.74% were susceptible, and 8.53% had mesothetic reactions. Further, selected germplasm lines with accession numbers IC138898, IC47022, IC535116, IC535133, IC535139, IC551396, and IC534144 showed high level of resistance against the eighteen prevalent pathotypes. The infection type varied from “;”, “;N”, “;N1” to “;NC”. PCR-based analysis of the resistant dicoccum lines with SSR marker gwm508 linked to the Lr53 gene, a leaf rust resistance gene effective against all the prevalent pathotypes of leaf rust in India and identified from a T. turgidum var. dicoccoides germplasm, indicated that Lr53 is not present in the selected accessions. Moreover, we have also generated 35K SNP genotyping data of seven lines and the susceptible control, Mandsaur Local, to study their relationships. The GDIRT tool based on homozygous genotypic differences revealed that the seven genotypes are unique to each other and may carry different resistance genes for leaf rust.