Background: Annona spp. are one of the underutilized fruit crop having great commercial and medicinal value and large diversity present in Maharashtra which is untapped. The present study conducted to characterize the Annona genotypes by ISSR and SSR markers for future germplasm conservation and crop improvement programme. Methods: Ninety genotypes were collected from various regions of Maharashtra. These ninety genotypes and eleven varieties from All India Coordinated Research Project on Arid Zone Fruits, MPKV, Rahuri were screened for morphological and biochemical characters. After morphological and biochemical characterization twenty-two superior genotypes were characterized using ISSR and SSR markers. Result: Among the 29 ISSR primers used, 20 were found polymorphic which produced a total of 171 reproducible amplicons, in which 109 amplicons (75.43%) were polymorphic. In 20 SSR primers used, 14 primers were found polymorphic which produced a total of 43 reproducible amplicons, in which 36 amplicons (83.72%) were polymorphic. Twenty unique amplicons produced by ISSR primer and eight unique amplicons produced by SSR in studied genotypes is useful in genotype/variety identification in future crop improvement. The dendogram generated based on UPGMA method of cluster analysis using ISSR and SSR marker data revealed little different but similar grouping of genotypes into two major clusters viz., cluster A and cluster B. The UPGMA based cluster analysis using dice similarity coefficient grouped Annona genotypes into two major clusters which differentiate squamosa and atemoya species. The distribution of the genotypes in the dendogram was mostly consistent with the known pedigree information, geographical locations and the morphological attributes. Genotypes collected from Purandar, Sawargaon, Pemgiri and Ajanta districts of Maharashtra formed cluster as per geographic collection. The close relationship across genotypes might be explained by either historical relationship to sharing common ancestor or more likely geographical proximity and large population size which favour genetic interchange. This low genetic difference among genotypes suggests that there was more gene flow through random mating without barrier within agro-ecological zones. ISSR and SSR markers gives direction in characterization of Annona genotypes but more areas need to be survey and explore for tapping genetic diversity to widen the gene pool. The screened material found superior need to be prioritized in terms of in-situ and ex-situ conservation for further evaluation and crop improvement.

Mulberry, a sole food source of silkworm- Bombyx mori L. is grown for its foliage. Among the different factors, the mulberry leaf contributes more than one third (33%) for cocoon production. Mulberry leaf yield is a complex character and is highly influenced by the environment. Even the genotypes are same they may show significant variation particularly in the total yield, major elements, minor elements, protein content etc. which ultimately affect the quality of biomass and in turn the quality of silk due to the factors like nature of soil, season, temperature, frequency of irrigation etc. The comparative account of all the three varieties clearly suggest that S 1635 is equally compatible or to be precise better than V 1 and S 36 hence S 1635 can also be recommended for drought prone climatic conditions of Ahmednagar district.

Quantitative expression analysis of three cellulose synthases/subunits encoding genes (cesAl, cesAlb, and cesA2) during three fibre development stages [3, 15 and 35 days post anthesis (dpa)] in Gossypium arboreum, G. anomalum, and G. hirsutum was undertaken. Exceptionally high expression was observed in G. hirsutum at 15 dpa stage for cesAl and cesA2 (6.5 and 7.7 magnitude increase over (3 tubulin) genes, which might be responsible for longer fibre in G. hirsutum. Moderately high expression of cesAl gene was recorded in G. arboreum (at 15 dpa), and in G. anomalum (at 3 and 15 dpa). However cesAl gene expression was negligible in G. arboreum, and G. hirsutum at 3 dpa and in all three species at 35 dpa. Strong increase in expression levels of cesAlb gene (6.4 magnitude increase over (3 tubulin) was observed in G. arboreum at 15 dpa stage. Expression levels of cesAlb gene were moderate in G. hirsutum (at 3 and 15 dpa) and in G. anomalum (at 15 dpa); while its expression was low to negligible in rest of the samples. The cesA2 gene expressed at moderate to low levels at 3 dpa in G. anomalum and G. hirsutum; at 15 dpa in G. arboreum and G. anomalum; and at 35 dpa in all three species. During fibre initiation, expression of all three cellulose synthase genes was negligible in G. arboreum. In fuzzy fibred G. anomalum expression of all three ces genes was low (nil for cesAl at 3 dpa) at all the stages. These results indicate that different cellulose synthase genes, cesA1 and cesA2 (in G. hirsutum) and cesAlb (in G. arboreum) play a predominant role in fibre development.

The present investigation was conducted with an objective to study genetic diversity available in 41 diverse F6 progenies of interspecific cross with six checks of cotton, evaluated during Summer, 2009 by using Mahalanobis D2 method. The genotypes were grouped into fourteen clusters indicating presence of appreciable amount of diversity and maximum number of progenies (22) were grouped into cluster-I followed by cluster-III, with thirteen progenies and remaining clusters were solitary. The highest intra cluster distance was observed between the progenies of cluster-III and included more diverse genotypes than the remaining clusters. The highest inter cluster D2 value was observed between clusters XI and XIV. Among the characters studied the highest contribution to the divergence was noted for short fibre index followed by plant height and seed cotton yield per plant. This study helps to understand diversity in the progenies and to identify appropriate genetic material for improvement of specific characters.

Cytological and molecular investigations were undertaken for parent and progeny derived from a trispecific line [2(Gossypium arboreum xG.anomalum)xG.hirsutum var. BWR], which was crossed with G.hirsutum var. JLH168. Cytomorphological analysis of the F1 (G.arboreumxG.anomalum), its amphidiploid and progeny from trispecies hybrid showed distorted ploidy segregation with monovalents to hexavalents and high intergenomic (small A2 and large B1) allosynthetic chromosome pairing. Microsatellite analysis identified three fragments associated with G.arboreum and G.anomalum and six fragments associated with G.hirsutum in derivates of the trispecies linexG.hirsutum var. JLH168. Inter-Retrotransposon Amplified Polymorphism (IRAP) analysis revealed fragments of G.arboreum and G.anomalum, only in F1 and amphidiploid. Chromosomal association and microsatellite analysis of three progeny genotypes (i.e. haploid, hexaploid and tetraploid no. 1) confirmed that they share multigenomic background from the three cotton species (A2, AhDh and B1 genome). The interspecific hybrid cotton genotypes studied are likely to be useful for the introgression of genes from diploid species to commercial upland cultivars.

An investigation was carried out in pigeon pea to understand the association among the yield components and their direct and indirect effects on the seed yield. Character association studies indicated that days to maturity, number of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, test weight (gm), seed yield per plant (gm) shows significant positive correlation with seed yield per plant at genotypic and phenotypic level in F 3 and F 4 generation. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of seeds per pod, number of pod per plant and test weight (gm) were the most important character which can be strategically used to improve yield in Pigeon pea.

The present investigation aimed to study genetic variability generated from the Gulyal white X Maruti cross in F 3 and F 4 generation to make effective selections for improving productivity. The study indicated that the higher magnitude of variability were recorded in F 3 and F 4 generation for 50 per cent flowering, number of secondary branches, number of seeds per pod, number of pod per plant, seeds yield per plant and seed yield (Kg/ha) and moderate variability observed in pod bearing length and test weight (gm). The higher heritability and genetic advance per mean were recorded in F 3 and F 4 generation for 50 per cent flowering, number of secondary branches, number of seeds per pod, number of pod per plant, seeds yield per plant and seed yield (Kg/ha) that implicate additive gene action in inheritance of these traits thus phenotypic selection would be effective in yield improvement .

Currently, spinning machinery used by the textile processing industry sets the standards for fibre quality and these are mostly based on the physical properties of fibre, especially strength. Therefore, an important breeding objective has been to introduce fibre strength genes from other Gossypium species or strains while maintaining the cotton fibre yield. Amongst wild Gossypium L. species, the African Gossypium anomalum produces cotton with good fibre strength and fineness. In this investigation, efforts were made to introgress superior fibre quality parameters from wild G. anomalum and G. barbadense into G.arboreum cotton and obtained hybrid between colchicide (G. arboreum x G. anomalum) x G. barbandense. In the present study F 3 and F 4 generation of inovulo cultured interspecific triple cross were evaluated to determine desirable fibre quality parameters for high spinning potential of the textile mills. On the basis of fibre analysis, seven F 3 segregants viz, 10aab/3, 9T/7, 9T/1, 30A/3, 4T/5, 73/9, 73/6 showed highest performance for the entire fibre quality attribute. Similarly 56/6-2, 4T/5-13, 9T/3-20, 13W/9-2, 45/3-18 and 9aab/8-5 F 4 plants had desirable fibre properties. Identification of these plants will enable to undergo the selection pressure for such type of plants in succeeding generation to enhance the fibre quality parameters.

In the present investigation, the F3 segregating generations of interspecific triple cross between colchicide (G. arboreum x G. anomalum) x G. barbandense were evaluated with an objective to detect transgressive segregants for quantitative characters. Very high numbers of transgressive segregants were observed in F3 generation of interspecific triple cross for nine yield contributing characters. Looking towards the range of variation for yield and yield contributing characters it appears that very high amount of variability has been created among the progenies. The vast variation in transgressents also suggested the possibility of combining desirable genes from all the three species together. In most of the segregants in F3 generation, seed cotton yield of better parent was found to be transgressed simultaneously with transgression of one or more other characters. The most promising transgressive segregants observed in F3 generation also had higher intensity of expression than the increasing parent for one or more characters. These entries need to be evaluated for their performance vis-a-vis their hybrids and commercial hybrids. On the basis of observed high values of trangressive segregants, it can be concluded that, when desired intensity of character is not available in the parents, transgressive breeding may be successfully used to extend the limit of expression of a particular character.

Association mapping identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and the markers linked to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) resistance in an elite association mapping panel of white winter wheat comprising 198 genotypes. A total of 1,166 marker loci including DArT and SSR markers representing all 21 chromosomes of wheat were used in the analysis. General and mixed linear models were used to analyze PHS data collected over 4 years. Association analysis identified eight QTLs linked with 13 markers mapped on seven chromosomes. A QTL was detected on each arm of chromosome 2B and one each on chromosome arms 1BS, 2DS, 4AL, 6DL, 7BS and 7DS. All except the QTL on 7BS are located in a location similar to previous reports and, if verified, the QTL on 7BS is likely to be novel. Principal components and the kinship matrix were used to account for the presence of population structure but had only a minor effect on the results. Although, none of the QTLs was highly significant across all environments, a QTL on the long arm of chromosome 4A was detected in three different environments and also using the best linear unbiased predictions over years. Although previous reports have identified this as a major QTL, its effects were minor in our biparental mapping populations. The results of this study highlight the benefits of association mapping and the value of using elite material in association mapping for plant breeding programs.

The genomic DNA of ten commercially released varieties of rice was amplified using random decamer primers. Out of the 40 random primers tested only 10 primers of arbitrary nucleotide sequence caused selective amplification of genomic DNA, which was unique to individual cultivar. Out of 529 amplicons, 87 were found to be highly polymorphic in nature; the extent of DNA polymorphism varied with each primer. The informative primers could be used in genetic fingerprinting of rice cultivars. On the basis of statistical analysis and dendrogram, the genetic relationship between and among the elite rice varieties was established.