Aim: The study aimed to estimate the gene action for yield and its components in chickpea through generation mean analysis and assess variability and trait interrelationships. Methodology: The experiment was conducted at the Pulses Improvement Project, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Mahatma Phule KrishiVidyapeeth, Rahuri, India in Rabi2023-24. The study used six generations (P 1, P 2 , F 1, F2, BC1, & BC2) from two crosses: Phule Vikram & times; ICC 4958 and RVG 202 & times; BGM 10216. Results: The adequacy of the additive-dominance model was assessed using the joint scaling test. Significant results for all traits, except NPBP (No. of primary branches per plant) in Cross I, indicated model applicability. The dominance component exceeded the additive for most traits like NPP (No. of pods per plant) and 100SW (100 seed weight) in both the crosses, and DFF (days to 50% flowering), NPBP, SYP (seed yield per plant), BY (biomass per plant) and HI (harvest index) in Cross I. Both additive and non-additive gene actions contributed significantly. Implications for breeding strategies were discussed based on the type of gene action observed. Higher PCV (phenotypic coefficient of variation) than GCV (genotypic coefficient of variation) indicated environmental influence. Moderate heritability, genetic advance, and high heterosis for SYP were observed. Strong correlations between SYP and key yield components suggest that simultaneous selection for these traits can enhance chickpea productivity. Interpretation: Identifying gene action and variability aids breeders in applying selection strategies, guiding breeding programs for development of high-yielding chickpea cultivars.

The present investigation aimed to assess the dal milling quality, cooking efficiency and nutritional composition of sixteen chickpea cultivars obtained from Pulse Improvement Project, M.P.K.V., Rahuri. Significant genetic variation was observed among the cultivars, particularly in proximate composition, milling qualities and physical parameters. Results obtained in the present study showed a positive correlation of grain weight with grain hardness and dal recovery. There is a positive correlation between grain hardness and various parameters, including cooking time, crude protein in whole chickpeas and dal. Crude protein showed negative correlation with total carbohydrates, crude fat and crude fiber. Cooking time exhibited positive correlation with seed weight and indicated that cooking time increased with increase in seed weight.

Okra is a tropical and subtropical regional crop that belongs to the family Malvaceae. An experiment was conducted to identify the transgressive segregants for yield and yield contributing characters in F2 population of three crosses in Okra. In most of the transgressive segregants of three crosses, better parent (increasing parent) yield was transgressed concurrently with the transgression of one or several other trait. Simultaneous transgression of fruit yield per plant with plant height, number of nodes on main stem, fruit length, fruit weight and number of fruits per plant was observed more frequently. One could conclude that either these attributes were necessary for fruit yield or that there was linkage drag in the genes causing these traits, which caused the genes controlling these traits to be inherited together. The most promising transgressive segregants viz., transgressive segregants No.88, 211, 258 of cross C1, No. 204, 297 of cross C2 and No.63,114 of cross C3, transgressed fruit yield per plant in addition to the higher expression of other five or six characters than the better parent in F2 generation. They surpassed their respective increasing parents in regards to fruit yield by 36.95 (Cross C1), 40.00 (Cross C2), and 33.37 (Cross C3) percent.

Field experiment was executed to know the nature of gene action for sugar content, juice and ethanol yield in sweet sorghum, using six parameter model of generation mean analysis. The high sugar content and juice yield potential (SSV-84, RSSV-269 and RSSV-493) and low sugar content, agronomical superior (IS 18360, RSSV-260 and RSSV-167) genotypes were hybridized separately, and back crossed with all parental genotypes. Data obtained from various relevant traits of segregating material and parental genotypes (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2), which evaluated under replicated condition and were used for generation mean analysis. The mean analysis of six-generations in all three crosses specifies the predominance effect of additive gene as well as dominance gene for juice and ethanol yield. All the parameters under investigation exhibited the significance of interaction types, either additive x additive, additive x dominance or dominance x dominance. According to sign of (h) and (l) genetic components, both duplicate and complementary types of epistasic interactions were detected in all three crosses with few exceptions. The dominant component with dominance x dominance gene action were detected considerable effect for juice and ethanol yield. An additive component along with additive x additive followed by dominance were observed to be better for the traits like, sugar content, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar per cent. The present investigation indicates better combinations like cross RSSV-269 x RSSV-260, thereafter cross SSV-84 x IS18360 relates to maximum sugar accumulation, juice and ethanol production, revealed the possibility of obtaining variants for juice and ethanol yield.

The experimental material comprised nine parental maize inbred lines, which were crossed in a full diallel mating system to produce 72 hybrids during the rabi 2020. In the present investigation, data were recorded on sixteen yield contributing quantitative traits. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all traits, indicating substantial genetic variability among the parental lines. Cross combinations i.e. F1s hybrids, particularly EC-639008 x IC-552819, EC-639232 x IC-552819, HYD-52327 x IC-552819, IC-470475 x IC-55281 and HYD-52065 x IC-552819 exhibited high per se performance for various traits in almost all studied seasons. The present investigation recognized parental lines, such as IC-552819, EC- 639008, EC-639232, and HYD-52327, as superior for yield and yield-contributing traits in diverse environments. These parental lines could be considered as good general combines and will be used to develop synthetic varieties. Combining ability analysis showed highly significant mean sum of squares for both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA), highlighting the importance of both additive and non-additive gene actions. Parents IC-552819 and EC-639008 were identified as good general combiners for multiple traits. Specific combining ability effects revealed promising cross combinations, with HYD-52065 x IC-552819 showing high SCA effects for kernel yield across all environments. Reciprocal effects indicated the importance of cytoplasmic inheritance for certain traits in specific crosses. The study identified hybrids stable under unfavorable and favorable environments based on per se performance and SCA effects. Thirteen hybrids and one check viz., IC-552819 x HYD-52212, HYD- 52212 x EC-639008, IC-470475 x HYD-52065, IC-470475 x HYD-52327, HYD-52327 x IC-472475, HYD-52184 x IC-552819, IC-552819 x HYD-52184, HYD-52184 x EC-639008, HYD-52065 x HYD-52327, HYD-52327 x HYD-52065, EC-639232 x HYD-52065, IC-552819 x IC-437070, IC-437070 x IC-552819 and check Parmeshwar found stable for all the three environments but should also study for multilocation stability so that it gives more clarity of stability for both seasonal and locational.

For development of climate resilient genotypes of chickpea for yield and yield contributing characters the present study was undertaken at Pulses Improvement Project, MPKV, Rahuri during Rabi season of 2021-22. The twelve genotypes and four check varieties were evaluated under three different environmental conditions. The data was subjected to ANOVA and Eberthart and Russel model. The analysis of pooled variance showed a significant connection among genotypes, environment (Linear) and genotypes x environment (Linear) almost for all characters except for number of seeds per pod. The genotypes Phule G 181603, Phule G 181609, Phule G 181667, Vijay and Phule Vikrant exhibited average stability for grain yield per plant over all three environments. The varieties Digvijay and Phule Vikram was found below average stable so they could be suitable for poor environment and genotypes Phule G 181102 and Phule G 1210-16-1 showed stability under favorable environments.

Background: Pigeonpea is an important protein-rich legume and one of the potential crops for rainfed agriculture in many parts of the semi-arid tropics. Worldwide, India ranks first both in area and production. Despite that, the productivity levels in India are low because of various biotic and abiotic stresses, out of which Sterility mosaic disease (SMD), which is caused by Pigeonpea Sterility Mosaic Virus (PPSMV), is a severe constraint during crop production. In the context of the above facts, resistant breeding is one of the most economical and eco-friendly approaches. The present investigation aimed to identify microsatellite markers linked to SMD resistance and potential resistant genetic resources. In this field- laboratory investigation carried out during 2017-2018, thirty genotypes and susceptible check ICP 8863 were evaluated in a randomized block design (RBD) with two replications in SMD sick plots. Observations were recorded based on visual symptoms for SMD incidence, and percent disease incidence (PDI) was calculated. In addition, a molecular study for the same genotypes was carried out with a total of 20 SSR markers. Out of 20 SSR primers, only 16 were amplified, from which only a single SSR marker (AHSSR20) showed polymorphism while the remaining 15 were monomorphic. The marker AHSSR20 have the potential to discriminate resistant and susceptible genotypes. AHSSR 20 primer assign 160 bp bands in resistant genotypes viz., BDN-711, PT-04-281, and PT-704-1-2 while ever, 172 bp bands assign in susceptible genotypes viz. ICP-8863, PT-04-378, PT-012-20, and PT-016-3. Accordingly, we conclude that AHSSR20 is a potent marker that can be helpful to discriminate between susceptible and resistant genotypes and can be used for direct selection of resistant genotypes during early segregating generation and marker-assisted breeding.

Forty-four Rabi sorghum genotypes (Sorghum bicolor L. Monech) collected from different geographical region were assessed for their genetic divergence based on twelve characters during Rabi, 2019-20 at Sorghum Improvement Project, MPKV, Rahuri. The genotypes were grouped into 7 clusters which indicating high genetic diversity among them. It indicated that genetic diversity and geographic diversity are not related. From inter cluster distance and cluster mean for various yield contributing traits, it could be concluded that cluster I, II and III were most divergent from all other clusters. The present study revealed that plant height contributed maximum (26.85%) for divergence followed by 1000 grain weight (26.11%) and panicle weight (18.60%). Based on inter-cluster distance, intra-cluster distance and per se performance the genotypes viz., RSLG-2419, RSLG-2421, RSLG-2423, RSLG-2430, RSLG-2458, RSLG-2461 and Phule Suchitra are suggested to utilize for future breeding programme.

Thirty six hybrids of okra along with their nine parental lines in 9 x 9 half diallel fashion excluding reciprocal crosses were studied to assess the extent heterosis effects over better parent, top parent and standard check for yield and fourteen characters. The cross combinations IC 0045993 x GKOKS-4, IC 089835 x GKOKS-4, IC 0090249 x IC 0588162, IC 089835 x IC 0111484, IC 0034124 x IC 0588162 and IC 0369611 x GKOKS-4 displayed the significant positive heterosis for most of the traits in both kharif and in summer season. The crosses IC 0010256A x IC 0111484, IC 0369611 x IC 0090249, and IC 089835 x GKOKS-4 exhibited significant negative heterosis under kharif season for most of the characters and same cross combination displayed significant negative heterosis in summer season for length of inter node and first fruiting node.

The experiment was undertaken on Line x Tester analysis for ancillary data of grain yield and its component traits in crosses of A line and R line of rabi sorghum at All India Co-ordinated Sorghum Improvement Project, M.P.K.V., Rahuri, during the year 2017-18 with objectives to study the general and specific combining ability of parents and hybrids. Combining ability studies for grain yield and its component traits was studied using four male sterile lines and ten testers at Sorghum Improvement Project, MPKV, Rahuri, Maharashtra. Observation recorded on Days to 50% flowering, Days to physiological maturity, Seedling height at 14 (DAE), Plant height, Grains per panicle, Panicle weight, 1000 grain weight, Dry fodder weight, Dry matter content, Grain yield per plant and Harvest index. The mean squares due to lines, testers and lines x tester were highly significant indicating the presence of variability for most of the characters. Estimates of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) variances indicated the predominance of non-additive gene action for most of the characters. The line Parents, line RMS-2010-10A and testers, RSV-2015, RSV-2124, RSV-2138 and RSV-1850 were observed good general combiner for grain yield and yield contributing characters. The hybrid viz., RMS-2010-16A x RSV-2124 (12.55), RMS-2010-24A x RSV-2015 (9.65), CMS-185A x RSV-1850 (8.25) and RMS-2010-10A x CSV-26 (6.94) etc. exhibited highly significant and positive SCA effects for grain yield which could be exploited for development of hybrids.