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Background: Approximately 90% of the world's chickpea is grown under rainfed conditions where terminal drought is one of the major constraints limiting productivity. The need of short-duration, Fusarium wilt tolerant cultivars/elite lines and able to escape drought due to early maturity were required. Methods: The present investigation was carried out using 54 genotypes, generated from six diverse crosses, along with ten checks (resistant/tolerance, susceptible) were screened against drought and Fusarium wilt at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi, Karnataka (Latitude: 17.36 and Longitude: 76.82) during crop season 2018-19. Result: The results revealed that higher PCV, GCV, heritability, per cent genetic advance were exhibited by number of pods per plant and seed yield per plot, whereas lower PCV, GCV recorded for days to 50% flowering and days to maturity in both normal and late sown conditions. The advanced breeding lines viz., KCD-8, KCD-24, KCD-28, KCD-32, KCD-37 and KCD-53 were identified as drought tolerant lines based on drought tolerant indices (viz., MP, YSI, DTE and DSI). The lines KCD-48 and KCD-32 were identified as Fusarium wilt resistance with lowest PDI of 1.47 and 2.46 respectively, as they were screened in wilt sick plot and further these were validated and confirmed the resistant alleles using two unpublished SNP markers (FW2_30366110 and FW2_30365816). The advanced breeding lines KCD-32 and KCD-37 were identified as drought tolerant and Fusarium wilt resistant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice being the global grain, its genetic diversity is essential to support farmers' adaptation to climate change for sustainable production. Genetic variability analysis is essential to identify the diverse genotypes and to use them in hybridization programs. Although several advanced molecular techniques are now being used to characterize plants, morphological characterization is always preferred owing to their ease of detection. However, not all morphological traits can be observed through naked eyes. Observing micro-morphological variations requires the help of specialized optical instruments. "Foldscope" is a simple and portable optical instrument, which offers a great opportunity to exploit micro-morphological variations in crop plants. Hence, the current study was aimed at the micro-morphological characterization of rice crop using a foldscope. A total of 24 elite rice genotypes including checks were evaluated using Randomized Complete Block Design during Kharif 2018 at Agricultural Research Station Gangavati, to explore their genetic diversity. Five often neglected micro-morphological traits but associated with the traits of economic importance were recorded using 'foldscope' to assess the variability existing among the selected genotypes. The analysis of variance revealed substantial variations across all genotypes for all the characteristics investigated. The traits viz., length of leaf serrations, length of hairs on the lemma, and root hair length exhibited higher GCV, PCV, heritability, and GAM most likely because of additive gene effects. So, selection for these traits may be effective. The study also showed that foldscope can be effectively used in agriculture to study micro-morphological diversity between crop genotypes.

Present investigation was conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS), Kalaburagi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur Karnataka India in rabi season 2019-20 using 54 diverse chickpea genotypes including 10 checks for different yield and yield attributing traits. The analysis of variance reveals that significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits considered for the study. The magnitude of PCV (phenotypic coefficient of variability) was higher than GCV (genotypic coefficient of variability) for all the characters. Higher heritability coupled with percent genetic advance were exhibited by secondary branches per plant, total number of pods per plant, seed yield per plot specify that these traits are control by additive gene action and selection maybe effective for these traits. The trait 100-seed weight showed significant and strong positive association with seed yield per plot at both phenotypic and genotypic level and total number of secondary branches per plant at genotypic level. Path analysis studies showed that the total number of pods per plant, hundred seed weight and total number of seeds per pod had positive and direct effect on seed yield. Hence, these characters maybe considered for further crop improvement programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofirtification is one of the sustainable approaches for improving the F2 and Zn content and their bioavailability in rice grain. Screening germplasm for Fe and Zn content is the initial step of biofortificaton. Sixty accessions of rice genotypes for Fe and Zn concentration. Iron concentration ranged from 3.38 ppm to 36.99 ppm and zinc from 3.32 ppm to 42.49 ppm. Genotypes having high Fe and Zn content are selected for further breeding programme.

The development of nutrient-use efficient rice lines is a priority amidst the changing climate and depleting resources viz., water, land, and labor for achieving sustainability in rice cultivation. Along with the traditional transplanted irrigated system of cultivation, the dry direct-seeded aerobic system is gaining ground nationwide. The root-related traits play a crucial role in nutrient acquisition, adaptation and need to be concentrated along with the yield-attributing traits. We phenotyped an association panel of 118 rice lines for seedling vigour index (SVI) traits at 14 and 21 days after sowing (DAS), root-related traits at panicle initiation (PI) stage in polythene bags under controlled aerobic condition, yield and yield-related traits under the irrigated condition at ICARIIRR, Hyderabad, Telangana; irrigated and aerobic conditions at ARS, Dhadesugur, Raichur, Karnataka. The panel was genotyped using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers and genome-wide association studies were conducted for identifying marker-trait associations (MTAs). Significant correlations were recorded for root length, root dry weight with SVI, root volume at the PI stage, number of productive tillers per plant, spikelet fertility, the total number of grains per panicle with grain yield per plant under irrigated conditions, and the total number of grains per panicle with grain yield per plant under aerobic condition. The panel was divided into three sub-groups (K = 3) and correlated with the principal component analysis. The maximum number of MTAs were found on chromosomes 2, 3, and 12 with considerable phenotypic variability. Consistent MTAs were recorded for SVI traits at 14 and 21 DAS (RM25310, RM80, RM22961, RM1385), yield traits under irrigated conditions (RM2584, RM5179, RM410, RM20698, RM14753) across years at ICAR-IIRR, grain yield per plant (RM22961, RM1146) under the aerobic condition, grain yield per plant at irrigated ICAR-IIRR and SVI (RM5501), root traits at PI stage (RM2584, RM80, RM410, RM1146, RM18472). Functionally relevant genes near the MTAs through in-silico expression analysis in root and panicle tissues viz., HBF2 bZIP transcription factor, WD40 repeat-like domain, OsPILS6a auxin efflux carrier, WRKY108, OsSCP42, OsMADS80, nodulin-like domain-containing protein, amino acid transporter using various rice expression databases were identified. The identified MTAs and rice lines having high SVI traits (Langphou, TI-128, Mouli, TI-124, JBB-631-1), high yield under aerobic (Phouren, NPK-43, JBB-684, Ratnamudi, TI-112), irrigated conditions (KR-209, KR-262, Phouren, Keibi-Phou, TI-17), robust root traits like root length (MoirangPhou-Angouba, Wangoo-Phou, JBB-661, Dissi, NPK-45), root volume (Ratnachudi, KJ-221, Mow, Heimang-Phou, PUP-229) can be further employed in breeding programs for the targeted environments aimed at improving seedling vigour, yield-related traits under irrigated condition, aerobic condition as adaptability to water-saving technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight cytoplasmic-genetic male sterile lines with A2 (Cajanus scarabaeoides) and A4 (Cajanus cajanifolius) cytoplasm were crossed with 10 testers in a line × tester design. Resultant 80 experimental hybrids were evaluated along with parents and check (Maruti) in lattice design with two replications. Combining ability analysis evinced predominance of non-additive gene effects for 10 characters indicating relevance of heterosis breeding for improving yield attributes. The gca effects of parents revealed that ICPA-2078, GT-308A, PKV-TATA, ARCCV-2 and GPHR-08-11 were good general combiners for seed yield and its direct components. The estimates of sca effects revealed that nine experimental hybrids had significant, desirable and positive sca effects for seed yield. The cross combination ICPA-2092 x VIPUL, ICPA-2078 x BSMR-856 and ICPA-2078 x ARCCV-2 were good specific combiners for number of secondary branches, number of pods per plant, seed yield per plant. These parental combinations are being used for exploitation of hybrid vigour.

An investigation was undertaken to ascertain the extent of genetic diversity present among 196 pigeon pea genotypes using D2 statistic. A wider genetic diversity was observed for nine characters as evidenced by formation of 13 clusters. Number of pods per plant contributed most (59.83%) towards divergence, followed by plant height ( 21.55 The highest inter cluster distance was observed between the cluster XIII and VII, followed by cluster V and XIII, II and XIII and cluster XII and VII, which indicates that the crosses among the genotypes between these clusters may result in better segregants and high heterotic combinations. Cluster mean analysis indicated that cluster V contains dwarf and early maturing genotypes and cluster XIII possess high yielding entries. Morphological characterization was also carried out for 15 traits can be used in varietal purification and seed production.

Niger (Guizotia abbyssinica (L.f.) cass) is a minor oilseed crop in India, cultivated on a marginal and sub-marginal lands, hilly areas, sloppy areas and around forest lands. It has tolerance to insect pests, diseases and attack of wild animals. In order to evaluate niger germplasm for Alternaria leaf spot disease, 200 lines were collected from Project Coordinating Unit, Jabalpur and were screened for disease resistance during kharif 2013 at College of Agriculture, UAS, Raichur. Each germplasm line was sown in a single line. The same were evaluated for seed yield and other ancillary characteristics viz., days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of primary branches, number of capitula and seed yield. Among 200 lines sown, 189 lines were germinated and evaluated for disease incidence during flowering time. The 0-5 scale was used to score the disease. 32 lines were found to be immune as these didn't showed any infection (i.e. 0% infection). The 100 lines were scored 1 by showing 1-10% disease incidence and are found to be resistant. The remaining germplasm (57) lines were scored 2 by showing 11-25% disease incidence and are moderately resistant. None of the genotypes were found to be susceptible. For confirmation, the disease scoring is in progress under epiphytotic condition. The genotypes with high yielding and less/no disease incidence were also identified. So collecting and evaluating germplasm for disease incidence will help in boosting the process of development of high yielding disease resistant varieties of niger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was carried out using 191genotypes as mini core collections of pigeonpea along with 5 check varieties to know the genetic diversity at molecular level. Significant variation was observed by the way of analysis of variance for nine characters viz., days to 50 % flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches per plant, pod bearing length, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, seed yield per plant and hundred seed weight. Molecular diversity using 18 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers divided genotypes into 15 clusters, of which ICP- 11059 and AK-101 were solitary, indicating their distinctiveness among all genotypes. Similarly, BSMR-533, JKM-7, RVK-285, ICP-1126, ICP-348, ICP-6859 and ICP-7869 were found distinct among the genotypes. Geographical origin based diversity separated Indian and non Indian genotypes. The Un weighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic mean (UPGMA) based dendrogram indicated distinctiveness of ICP-13633 and Bennur local, as they formed solitary cluster. The SSR marker CcM 602, as it could differentiate 4 genotypes at different base pair size can be used for identification and finger printing of genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out with 17 CGMS lines and their maintainers along with 22 diversified restorer (R) lines to obtain information on molecular diversity and phenotypic characterization. All exhibited enormous phenotypic variability. Anthocynin pigmentation on hypocotyls was present in 50 genotypes and it was absent in six genotypes viz., ICPA 2043, ICPB 2043, GT 307A, GT 307B, RAJA & BSMR 736. Determinate type of growth habit was found in three genotypes viz., ICPA 2078, ICPB 2078 & GC 11-39. A total of 30 SSR markers were used across 56 genotypes. The polymorphic markers amplified a total of 76 alleles with an average of 2.93 alleles per markers and number of alleles ranged from 2 to 4 per marker. Major allele frequency ranged from 0.34 (CcM0057) to 0.79 (CcM0402) with an average of 0.47 per marker. Molecular diversity among 17 male sterile (A) lines and their maintainer (B) lines yielded three main clusters. All the 'A' and 'B' lines found isogenic, as indicated by close clusters, except for the genotypes GRGA/B 2, GRGA/B 4, GRGA/B 6 and GT 307A/B. Hence more number of back crosses are needed to make them as isonuclear lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The material for study of genotype x environment (G x E) interaction comprised of 23 genotypes, which were tested in four environments, during kharif-2012 and 2013 at two locations in Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi and Raddevadgi located in north eastern dry zone (Zone 2) of Karnataka. The experiment was laid out in lattice design with two replications. Highly significant differences among genotypes were observed for all the characters except number of pods per plant and yield per plant. Environmental +(Genotype x Environment) interaction was significant for days to 50 per cent flowering, day to maturity, plant height, pod bearing length, number of pods per plant and seed yield per plant. The variance due to pooled deviation was highly significant for all the characters which reflect the presence of sufficient genetic variability in the material. Stability parameters for seed yield per plant indicated that ASHA(ch) was stable and desirable, followed by RVK-275 and GRG-811 which were specifically adopted for favourable and poor environments respectively. Two years of field screening for Fusarium wilt (FW) and Sterility Mosaic Disease (SMD) yielded three genotypes viz., GRG-811, GRG-2009 and ASHA for resistance to Fusarium wilt and moderate resistance to SMD. Hence, these genotypes can be used directly as a variety or choice of parent for hybridization programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out using three cytoplasmic-genetic male sterile (CGMS) lines as females and four diversified testers as males in a line × tester design. The analysis of variance for combining ability showed that the mean squares due to general and specific combining ability effects indicated involvement of both additive and non additive gene action. The mean sum of squares due to lines × testers and their interactions were highly significant for seed yield and it's component characters further indicated the importance of sca variance, and consequently the non-additive genetic variation in the inheritance of these characters are more likely to be improved through heterosis breeding. The gca effects of parents revealed that female line TS-3RA was good general combiners with JKM-197 and ASHA for seed yield and it's direct components. Crosses exhibiting high specific combingability effects along with their per se performance, standard heterosis and gca status of the parents indicated that the cross combinations MARUTI-A x ASHA, WRP-1A x GC-11-39 and TS-3RA x JKM-197 were good specific combiners for seed yield. These parental combinations are being used for exploitation of hybrid vigour. Two hybrids TS-3RA x GRG-2009 and WRP-1A xGRG-2009 were moderately resistant for both the diseases with per cent disease incidence value of 3.57 and 25.00 for Fusarium wilt and 16.00 and 15.79 for sterility mosaic disease (SMD) respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variability is a crucial tool for improvement of seed yield in sunflower. The analysis of variance of 23 hybrids revealed significant differences for all nine characters studied. The genotypic and phenotypic variation was high for seed yield per plant, head diameter and test weight indicating these characters were amenable for improvement by selection. All characters studied were least affected by environment as shown by correspondence between phenotypic co-variance (PCV) and genotypic covariance(GCV). High heritability coupled with the high genetic advance was recorded for plant height, test weight, seed yield per plant, volume weight and head diameter. High heritability along with moderate genetic advance was observed for days to 50 per cent flowering and oil content indicating additive gene action controlling these traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was carried out during 2009-2010 at the Agricultural Research Station, Aland Road, Gulbarga (16° 2′ N, 76° 42′ E, 443 m elevation) located in North Eastern Dry Zone (Zone-2) of Karnataka. The 12 F1's were studied under the insect proof condition with the objective of transferring the male sterility into the back ground of locally adopted cultivars for developing stable male sterile lines. The cent per cent male sterility was found in two F1's combinations viz., GT- 288A × Maruti and ICPA-2078 × WRP-1. As these crosses showed maximum sterility they can be effectively used for back cross with its respective recurrent parent. In further back crossing sterile back ground of recurrent parent genome can be recovered along with male sterility. The plant to plant crosses of BC4F1 and BC5F1 generations studied revealed that there was no single cross which exhibited cent per cent male sterility or not even near to 99 per cent male sterility. There is no drastic improvement in male sterility from the previous generations to present. Hence it is not worthy to carry out back crossing for further generations. Therefore, these lines cannot be used in further hybrid breeding programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofortification through plant breeding is a cost-effective and sustainable approach towards addressing micronutrient malnutrition prevailing across the globe. Screening cultivars for micronutrient content and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs)/genes and markers help in the development of biofortified varieties in chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.). With the aim of identifying the genomic regions controlling seed Fe and Zn concentrations, the F 2:3 population derived from a cross between MNK-1 and Annigeri 1 was genotyped using genotyping by sequencing approach and evaluated for Fe and Zn concentration. An intraspecific genetic linkage map comprising 839 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning a total distance of 1,088.04 cM with an average marker density of 1.30 cM was constructed. By integrating the linkage map data with the phenotypic data of the F 2:3 population, a total of 11 QTLs were detected for seed Fe concentration on CaLG03, CaLG04, and CaLG05, with phenotypic variation explained ranging from 7.2% ( CaqFe3.4 ) to 13.4% ( CaqFe4.2 ). For seed Zn concentration, eight QTLs were identified on CaLG04, CaLG05, and CaLG08. The QTLs individually explained phenotypic variations ranging between 5.7% ( CaqZn8.1 ) and 13.7% ( CaqZn4.3 ). Three QTLs for seed Fe and Zn concentrations ( CaqFe4.4, CaqFe4.5 , and CaqZn4.1 ) were colocated in the " QTL-hotspot " region on CaLG04 that harbors several drought tolerance-related QTLs. We identified genes in the QTL regions that encode iron-sulfur metabolism and zinc-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase activity on CaLG03, iron ion binding oxidoreductase on CaLG04, and zinc-induced facilitator-like protein and ZIP zinc/iron transport family protein on CaLG05. These genomic regions and the associated markers can be used in marker-assisted selection to increase seed Fe and Zn concentrations in agronomically superior chickpea varieties., (Copyright © 2020 Sab, Lokesha, Mannur, Somasekhar, Jadhav, Mallikarjuna, C, Yeri, Valluri, Bajaj, Chitikineni, Vemula, Rathore, Varshney, Shankergoud and Thudi.)

The measure of White Blood Cells (WBC) in the blood is an important indicator of pathological conditions. Computer vision based methods for differential counting of WBC are increasing due to their advantages over traditional methods. However, most of these methods are proposed for single WBC images which are pre-processed, and do not generalize for raw microscopic images with multiple WBC. Moreover, they do not have the capability to detect the absence of WBC in the images. This paper proposes an image processing algorithm based on K-Means clustering to detect the presence of WBC in raw microscopic images and to localize them, and a VGG-16 classifier to classify those cells with a classification accuracy of 95.89%.