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Seven promising genotypes of Gladiolus were experimented during the two consecutive years of 2014/15 and 2015/16 in the field of Horticulture Research Division, Khumaltar, Lalitpur (1332 masl) to evaluate the performances of their vegetative, floral and corm characteristics. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. The treatments consisted of seven genotypes (ARSDG-01, ARSDG-02, ARSDG-03, ARSDG-04, ARSDG-05, ARSDG-06 and ARSDG-07). Fifty-four corms of each genotype were planted in the crop geometry of 25 x 25 cm. A total of sixteen characters were observed. The pooled results of two years data indicated significantly different except plant height, spike length, rachis length, number of cormels per mother corm and individual corm weight due to the effects of seven evaluated genotypes. Genotype ARSDG-04 was proven as the earliest one for days to the first spike emergence (73.00 days), the full spike emergence (76.50 days) and the first unfurling of florets (83 days). In contrast, ARSDG-01 and ARSDG-06 were late genotypes for the same three characters. The number of florets/spikes was considerably high in two genotypes viz., ARSDG-06 (21.00) and ARSDG-03 (20.50). The number of daughter corms/mother corm was significantly high in ARSDG-05 (3.10) and ARSDG-04 (2.92) whereas it was minimally low in ARSDG-02 (1.66) and ARSDG-07 (1.69). Summing up all sixteen characters of evaluated genotypes, ARSDG-04 as the first, ARSDG-05 as the second and ARSDG-03 as the third have respectively emerged as superior ones as opposed by those of the rest of evaluated genotypes of Gladiolus.

Drought tolerance is a highly complex trait and one of the important components of yield stability in wheat. An experiment was therefore conducted to study the drought tolerance status of 14 high-yielding wheat varieties based on morphological characteristics under a randomized complete block design following factorial arrangement with three replications. Variety × Treatment × Year interactions of wheat genotypes were studied for various morphological traits under normal and drought stress conditions for 2 years in plants grown in pots. Significant differences were observed among the 14 varieties of wheat. Sutlej-86 was found to be highly affected by drought, with maximum reductions in plant height, spike length and number of spikelets/spike. The variety with the maximum tolerance to drought was Bahawalpur-97; this variety also had the lowest reductions in the number of fertile tillers/plant, the number of spikelets/spike, spike weight, the number of grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield/spike, total biomass and stress susceptibility and tolerance indices. Stronger correlations among the studied attributes under drought stress over normal conditions further highlighted drought stress adversities. The studied traits are thus recognized as drought tolerance indicators for varietal selection, and varieties showing less reduction under drought could be used as a standard check in breeding programmes to identify lineages with drought tolerance and could be recommended for drought-stressed areas.

Background. The length of the growing season is a limiting factor in many regions with unstable climatic conditions. The development of ultra-early barley donors makes it possible to accelerate the breeding process aimed at producing commercial cultivars adapted to cultivation area requirements.Materials and methods. The donors Kibel, Kibel uluchshenny, Kibtsel and Kibkor were obtained through individual selection of barley forms combining earliness and productivity from the hybrid combination Belogorsky × k-15881. The experiments were carried out according to the approved guidelines. Yield components were used to calculate the index of productivity for the donors versus the reference cv. ‘Belogorsky’.Results and conclusions. Earliness is controlled in the donors by three recessive genes. The donors’ period from emergence to heading was 7–9 days shorter than that of the reference cv. ‘Belogorsky’, with a low norm of reaction, which attested to their high adaptability. The resulting barley forms were highly resistant to lodging. The donor Kibel uluchshenny in all spike yield components did not differ from the reference. The other donors were close to the reference in spike length and 1000 seed weight. The example of Kibel uluchshenny was used to demonstrate the possibility of producing barley forms combining high earliness and good productivity. The developed donors may prove useful in the breeding for earliness in the areas where the length of the growing season is a limiting factor.

This study was carried out in Andro Research Farm, CAU, Imphal to study diallel analysis of yield and its important components in 10 genotype of wheat during two consecutive rabi season 2017-2019. All the 10 genotype and their 45 F1’s cross combination exhibited significant difference in characters under study Combining ability analysis showed that both gca and sca variances value were highly significant for most of traits studied in F1 progenies which suggest importance of both additive as well as non-additive genetic components for the expression of characters under study. VL 3017 was found good general combiner for the characters like fifty percent flowering, days to eighty percent maturity, plant height, total number of tillers per hill, total number of spikelets per spike, spike length, total number of filled grains per spike and grain yield per plant. Among all 45 crosses, cross combination VL 3018 x HS 490 and VL 892 x UP 3017 were good specific combiners for the grain yield per plant character in F1 generation.

Plant height affects directly the yield potential of wheat, and constitutes an important component of plant resistance to lodging. Although a large number of QTLs for plant height were detected, most of them have not been evaluated for their genetic effects yet. In the previous study, a major QTL Qph . nau-5B controlling wheat plant height was identified through association mapping in wheat variety collection. To evaluate the dwarfing effect of this QTL, three near-isogenic lines (NILs) with different alleles of Qph . nau-5B were developed using marker-assisted selection with Nanda 2419, Jichun 1016, and Zhengmai 9023 as donor and Zhongyou 9507 as receptor. The recipient genome compositions of these NILs were higher than 93%. Seven independent field trials were conducted and revealed that, compared with the recurrent parent, all NILs indicated a significant decrease in plant height (11.1 cm or 10.3% on average). Three alleles of Qph . nau-5B showed different degrees of dwarfing effects. The alleles coming from Jichun 1016 and Zhengmai 9023 displayed a similar effect on plant height (12.4 cm) in all environments, stronger than that of Nanda 2419 (8.6 cm). However, the relative dwarfism effects of different alleles were affected by different environments. Further analysis elucidated that this QTL had little detrimental influence on other agronomical traits such as spike number per plant, spike length and 1000-grain weight. These results suggested the breeding value of Qph . nau-5B that would be utilized for molecular design breeding of plant architecture in wheat.

Bu çalışma Van ekolojik şartlarında 2018-19 ve 2019-20 kış yetiştirme döneminde iki yıl süre ile yürütülmüştür. Deneme Tarla Bitkileri Bölümü uygulama alanında nadas alanlarının azaltılmasında normal ve anıza ekim yöntemleri birbirleri ile kıyaslanarak verim ve verim öğelerinin tespit edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma anıza ve normal ekim yöntemleri kullanılarak altı adet tritikale çeşidi (Özer, Alperbey, Melez, Mikham-2002, Tatlıcak-97 ve Karma-2000) Tesadüf Blokları Deneme Desenine göre 3 tekerrürlü olarak yürütülmüştür. Araştırma sonunda yıllar arası fark önemsiz olup, anıza ve normal ekimden elde edilen ortalama başaklanma gün sayısı sırasıyla, 203-204 gün ile 203-204 gün, bitki boyu 95.3-107.6 cm ile 99.0-112.3 cm, m2 başak sayısı 133.0-161.7 adet ile 135.7-175.0 adet, başakta tane sayı 37.4-42.7 adet/bitki ile 36.0-44.0 adet/bitki, başak uzunluğu 7.03-8.50 cm ile 7.40 -8.63 cm, erme süresi 45 - 46 gün ile 44-45 gün, hasat indeksi %30.8-39-4 ile % 30.5-39.3, bin tane ağırlığı 34.2-43.1 g ile 35.2-42.4 g, biyolojik verim 394.7-434.7 kg/da ile 417.3-444.0 kg, tane verimi 123.3- 171.0 kg/da ile 127.3-174.0 kg/da, ham protein oranı %11.3-12.3 ile % 11.9-12.3 arasında değişmiştir. Sonuç olarak Van ekolojik koşullarında nadas alanlarının azaltılmasında anıza ekim yönteminden ümitvar sonuçlar elde edilmiştir.

Herbarium collections have proven to be irreplaceable information base in recent studies directed towards revealing shifts in plants phenology and morphology caused by climate change. We examined eight parameters of morphological traits in the perennial herb species Plantago lanceolata L. collected in the wild between 1905 and 2019 and stored at the KW-herbarium (Kyiv, Ukraine) to find out if there were changes in plants’ organ sizes during the last 114 years. For this period, we also calculated 13 climatic parameters obtained from meteorological records from the State archive that gave us the opportunity to check if there are any relations between the climate change in Kyiv region and shifts in morphological parameters of plants. Our results have shown Plantago lanceolata leaf blades, petioles and spikes had become significantly longer with time, increasing 3.0 cm, 2.1 cm and 0.6 cm respectively. The Co-inertia analysis revealed that 34% of the morphological changes was attributed to climate change. The analysis also demonstrated that leaf length correlated more with raised temperatures when plants were in flower, while spike length depended on the temperatures during bud development. Received knowledge can be used to reveal rapid evolutionary processes of the Plantago species and predicting their further course for the construction of historical climate models based on the leaves traits.

Seven bread wheat genotypes were crossed in a7x7half diallel scheme in 2017/2018.Parents and their 21 F1 crosses were evaluated under normal and stress conditions during 2018/2019 in two field experiments. The results of analysis of variance were significant for all studied traits. The highest mean values were detected by parents P1, P1,P2, P3,P2 and p2 for plant height, spike length, No of spikes/ plant, 1000-kernel weight, biological yield/ plant and grain yield/ plant, respectively. While, the highest mean values were recorded with crosses P3xP5 for biological yield/ plant and grain yield / plant. Mean squares for both general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability estimates were highly significant for most studied traits. The ratios between GCA and SCA exceeded the unity for all studied traits, except biological yield/ plant under drought, revealing that additive and additive x additive types of gene action are more important than non-additive gene action in controlling these traits. P6 exhibited positive and significant ĝi effects for biological yield/ plant. P7 gave positive and significant combiner for spike length, No of spikes/ plant and grain yield/ plant. The highest desirable SCA effects were obtained with P1 x P6, P1 x P7, P2 x P7, P3 x P5 and P4 x P7for grain yield/ plant which exhibited significant and positive ŝij effects

Dendrobium orchid cv. Singapore White is cultivated commercially for cut flower purpose. The performance of this orchid in response to the different nutrient concentrations was evaluated under the agro-climatic conditions of Kodagu during 2017-2020. Twelve nutrient doses were applied as foliar sprays at weekly intervals to study their effect on vegetative growth, flower production and quality parameters of the cut flowers. Plant height, number of leaves plant-1, leaf area, number of pseudobulbs plant-1, number of spikes plant-1 year-1, number of flowers spike-1 and spike length varied significantly with the nutrient doses. Foliar spray of 30:20:20 NPK 0.1% at weekly intervals recorded the maximum plant height of 53.21cm, number of spikes plant-1year-1 (10.01) with spike length of 44.43 cm and 16.20 flower spike-1.

Salt stress have negative impact on crop productivity, so plant breeders interested in obtaining improved lines with high productivity and salt stress tolerance. This study conducted in two seasons (2016/2017 & 2017/2018) to study genetic behavior of nineteen lines of durum wheat, obtained from Arab Center for Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), at Ras-Sudr in two experiments, the first irrigated by salinity of 3900 ppm and the second with 6300 ppm. Variation of lines showed high significance for all traits and three lines, ACSADs: 1487, 1566 and 1567, recorded the highest values ​​for grain yield; its components and straw yield/plant. Results of phenotypic correlation between traits showed positive and significant correlation between grain yield/plant and each of straw yield/plant, spike length, number of spikelets/spike, number of grains/spike and 1000 kernel weight, indicating their significant on grain yield under stress. Six lines in the first group of cluster analysis showed positive association with grain yield, its components and all tolerance indices except SSPI, also their high yield under both conditions. The principle component analysis and cluster analysis revealed positive and high significant correlation between plant grain yield under both conditions, indicating high performance under non-stress resulted in relatively to high yield under stress. The same correlation occurred between both grain yield/plant under non-stress and stress with each of: STI, MP, GMP, and HM; but negative and significant correlation with ATI and SSPI indices. Two best lines, ACSADs 1566 and 1567 can be selected as improved ones under salinity.

The present experiment entitled “Effect of pre-plant soaking of corms in bio- regulators on growth, flowering, yield and quality in gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) cv. Rani.” was carried out at the Jambuvadi Farm, Department of Horticulture, J. A.U., Junagadh (Gujarat) during 2019 to 2020. The results of the study indicated that, the pre-plant soaking of corms in bio- regulator GA3 (150 ppm) was found effective for earlier sprouting (6.90 days), maximum plant height (78.74 cm) and number of leaves (13.62). Regarding flowering characters, the GA3 150 ppm responded best especially in commercial traits like spike length (86.82 cm), rachis length (40.30 cm), number of floret/spike (10.63), diameter of 2nd floret (13.09 cm) and duration of flowering (22.34 days).

The present investigation entitled “Combining ability studies on terminal heat tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under late sown irrigated condition using Line X Tester design” was carried out during rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19 at the All India Co-ordinated Wheat and Barley Improvement Project, B.T.C. College of Agriculture and Research Station (IGKV), Bilaspur (C.G.). The experiment was conducted in RBD involving six lines, three testers and 18 F1s hybrids of wheat with two replications for study of character associated with yield and yield contributing traits. The analysis indicated that variance due to treatments was highly significant for all the characters under studied. All the characters except spike weight were highly significant. GCA, SCA and additive effect was found highest for character of harvest index. Among the lines, CG 1015 (Chhattisgarh Gehu)-04 was found good general combining ability (GCA) effect for the character of peduncle length, spike length, number of seed per plant and biological yield per plant. MP 3336 was found good GCA effect for chlorophyll reflection index, harvest index and number of tillers per plant. HD 2285 was found good GCA effect for days to maturity, 1000 seed weight and canopy temperature depreciation. Among the testers, Halna was good GCA effect for the character of days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and spike length. PHSL 10 was good GCA effect for number of tillers per plant, spike weight, seed yield per plant and harvest index. Among the crosses, CG 1015 (Chhattisgarh Gehu-04) X HUW 661 was good specific combining ability (SCA) effect for seed yield per plant. MP 3336 X PHSL 10 was good SCA effect for number of spikelet per spike and number of seed per plant. HD 2932 X Halna was good SCA effect for spike weight and 1000 seed weight and crosses HD 2864 X Halna was good SCA effect for the character of canopy temperature depreciation and biological yield per plant.

The present research work was carried out during the year 2017-18 at College of Horticulture, Dr. Y.S.R Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The experiment consisted of 10 crossandra genotypes, laid out in randomized block design with three replications under open conditions. The observations were recorded on various parameters in which the genotype Arka Shravya exhibited superiority in parameters like plant spread (1407.53 cm2), number of leaves (241.24), Fresh weight of plant (80.83 g), Dry weight of plant (20.21 g), flowering duration of spike (26.33 days), rachis length (12.77 cm) and flower yield per sq. meter (1448.01) whereas, Arka kanaka showed the more spike length (20.90 cm) and longevity of flowers on plants 4.33 days while, Arka Shreeya found to be largest in flower size (8.87 cm) as compared to check and other genotypes.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is number one cereal of the world and is grown on the largest area. Field experiment conducted at Crop Research Farm, Nawabganj of CSAUA&T in Kanpur. In this study the high heritability and high genetics advance for the twelve characters were observed in normal conditions. In different genotypes, high heritability (narrow sense) were recorded for days to maturity, one thousand grains weight, grain weight per spike, number of grains per spike, number of tillers per plant and while moderate heritability were found for plant height, harvest index, grain yield per plant, biological yield, spike length (cm) and days to 50% heading whereas number of spikelets per spike showed low heritability. The estimate of genetic advance in percentage over mean ranged from 5.56 (days to maturity) to 43.04 (number of productive tillers per plant) in Fl generation. The high value of genetic advance was recorded for number of tillers per plant. Moderate genetic advance were recorded for days to 50% heading, plant height (cm), spike length (cm), 1000 grain weight (g), grain weight per spike (g), biological yield per plant (g), grain yield per plant and harvest index. Low values of genetic advance were recorded for days to maturity, number of spikelets per spike and number of grain per spike in F1 generation.

A field experiment was undertaken to extrapolate the effect of different polymer and plant protectants based seed treatment on yield and yield components of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with cv.HPW-155.The experimental design was randomized block design with three replications. Results interpret that different polymer based seed treatment had significant effect on tillers per plant, plant height (cm), spike length (cm), spikes per plant, spikelet per spike, seeds per spike, 1000-seed weight (g), seed yield per plot (kg), seed yield (q/ha) except days to 50% flowering and days to 75% maturity which had shown non-significant differences. Treatments,T6 - polymer + vitavax 200 @ 2 g/kg of seed and T5 - vitavax 200 @ 2 g/kg seed had shown significant superiority for tillers per plant, plant height (cm), spike length (cm), spikes per plant, spikelets per spike, 1000 - seed weight, seed yield per plot (kg), and seed yield (q/ha) over control (T1- control). Treatment T6 had shown 14.7% gain in seed yield as comapred to untreated control(T1).

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide. A consensus map combines genetic information from multiple populations, providing an effective alternative to improve the genome coverage and marker density. In this study, we constructed a consensus map from three populations of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of wheat using a 90K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Phenotypic data on plant height (PH), spike length (SL), and thousand-kernel weight (TKW) was collected in six, four, and four environments in the three populations, and then used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. The mapping results obtained using the constructed consensus map were compared with previous results obtained using individual maps and previous studies on other populations. A simulation experiment was also conducted to assess the performance of QTL mapping with the consensus map. The constructed consensus map from the three populations spanned 4558.55 cM in length, with 25,667 SNPs, having high collinearity with physical map and individual maps. Based on the consensus map, 21, 27, and 19 stable QTLs were identified for PH, SL, and TKW, much more than those detected with individual maps. Four PH QTLs and six SL QTLs were likely to be novel. A putative gene called TraesCS4D02G076400 encoding gibberellin-regulated protein was identified to be the candidate gene for one major PH QTL located on 4DS, which may enrich genetic resources in wheat semi-dwarfing breeding. The simulation results indicated that the length of the confidence interval and standard errors of the QTLs detected using the consensus map were much smaller than those detected using individual maps. The consensus map constructed in this study provides the underlying genetic information for systematic mapping, comparison, and clustering of QTL, and gene discovery in wheat genetic study. The QTLs detected in this study had stable effects across environments and can be used to improve the wide adaptation of wheat cultivars through marker-assisted breeding.

The present investigation was carried out at Floricultural Research Station, SKLTSHU under AICRP scheme for testing of new genotypes of crossandra for three consecutive years. The experiment was carried out from 2014-2017 laid out in RBD with five genotypes as treatments viz., Arka Shravya, Arka Ambara, Arka Kanaka, Arka Shreeya and local cultivar as check and replicated four times. The results revealed that among the genotypes maximum plant height (95.84 cm), plant spread (126.60 sq.cm), number of branches per plant (9.34) was recorded in Arka Shravya and minimum was recorded by Arka Kanaka. Similarly Arka Shravya recorded longest spike length (20.84 cm), rachis length (10.04 cm), number of flowers per spike (17.34) and number of pickings per month (18.34). However, flower length (4.24 cm) and 100 flowers weight (7.67 g) was recorded maximum in Arka Shreeya and maximum flower diameter was recorded in Arka Ambara. Based on RHS colour chart Arka Ambara, Arka Shreeya and Local cultivar comes under orange group, Arka Kanaka is a Yellow orange group one and Arka Shravya comes under red group category. It can be concluded that Arka Shreeya and Arka Ambara can be replaced with local variety for loose flower cultivation and Arka Shravya as both loose flower and garden display and Arka Kanaka for garden display and landscaping.

Aegilops tauschii is an important crop wild relative of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and its gene pool is currently considered the most important resource for wheat improvement as potential gene donor for drought, disease and pest resistance. Aegilops tauschii subsp. tauschii grows abundantly at several places in Kashmir but is somewhat uncommon. Fourteen germplasm accessions were collected for the first time from diverse locations mainly in Budgam and Srinagar districts of Kashmir and conserved in the National Genebank. Analysis of data recorded on morphological traits of plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% maturity, spike length, spikelets/spike, no. of seeds/spikelet, seed yield/plant and 100-grain weight revealed considerable variability. Significant positive association of days to flowering was observed with spike length and number of spikelets/ spike. Interestingly, spike length revealed a significant positive association with altitude of place from where accessions were originally collected. Principal component analysis revealed that first two components having Eigen values greater than one contributed nearly 60% variance. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions into three distinct groups mainly on the basis of spike length. The study provides basic information about this valuable crop wild relative and the information may help in its proper utilization.

Two field experiments were conducted at Etay El-Baroud Experiment station of El-Behira Governorate, Egypt during 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons to examine three planting methods of intercropping green and full mature onion with wheat i.e. 1-planting in flat soil (without ridges), wheat was planted in rows 20cm apart and onion was transplanted among the rows of wheat, 2-growing wheat on ridges (60cm apart) in 2 rows on top and northern side of the ridge and onion was transplanted on southern side of the same ridge and 3-growing wheat on the wide ridges (120cm apart) in 4rows and onion was transplanted on both sides of the same ridge and two intercropping systems (100% wheat + 50% green onion and 100% wheat +50% full mature onion as well as sole wheat, sole green and full mature onion. Results show that, planting methods had no significant effect on yield and its components of wheat, except spike length and number of spikes/m2 were significantly affected by planting methods in the two growing seasons while, 1000 grain weight was significantly affected by planting methods in 2018/2019 season only. The tallest spikes length were recorded under planting method {120cm (M3)} while, the highest number of spikes/m2and 1000 grain weight were recorded under planting method {without ridges (M1)}.On the other hand, green and full mature onion per feddan were significantly affected by planting methods, the highest main values were recorded by growing onion on the two sides of ridges {120cm apart (M3)}. Intercropping green and full mature onion had no significant effect on yield of wheat, while the sole onion achieved the highest yield/fed compared to intercropping systems. Generally, growing green onion on the two sides of wide ridges {120cm apart (M3)} with wheat recorded the highest Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), Relative Crowding Coefficient (K) and net returns compared to sole wheat. In all intercropping treatments, wheat was the dominant whereas, onion was the dominated.

Purpose and objectives - to determine the breeding value of spring barley cultivars and lines.Materials and methods: Twenty-two cultivars and 3 lines of spring barley were taken as the test material. The field experiments were carried out in the competitive variety trial nursery in compliance with the method of state variety trials. The forecrop was grain pea. The plot area was 10 m2; the experiments were carried out in 4 replications. Barley was sown with a breeding seeder SSFK-7. The yield, growing period length, lodging resistance, performance and its structural elements were determined. Calculus of variations analysis of variance were performed in STATISTICA 10 and EXCEL as BA Dospekhov described.Results and discussion: The peculiarities of 22 cultivars and 3 lines of spring barley were described by expression levels of the following quantitative traits: morpho-biological (performance, total and productive tillering capacity, spikelet and grain number per spike, spike length, grain weight from the main ear and lateral stalks) and economic (yield, growing period length, lodging resistance) ones.The variability of quantitative traits of the accessions under investigation was determined. In particular, the plant height variability was low (9.5%), the spike length and grain weight from the main spike variabilities were medium (15.6 and 19.5%, respectively), and the variability of other traits were high.The analysis distinguished intensive high-yielding cultivars Margret, Grace, Avhur, Datcha, Khors, and Troian and the line 14-561 (5.07–4.84 t/ha); lodging-resistant cultivars Amil, Troian (Lider), Datcha, and Grace and line 15-139; and high performance cultivars Amil, Khors, Hatunok, Akhiles, and Krasen.Conclusions. As a result of determining the characteristics of the spring barley accessions with high levels of expression of quantitative morpho-biological and economic traits, the breeding value of cultivars and lines suitable for combination breeding was evaluated.

The survey was conducted during the period 2015-2017 in the experimental field of IPGR Sadovo. The elements of productivity of 29 common winter wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum L.) with origin from Belarus and two Bulgarian varieties – Sadovo 1 and Enola were studied. The coefficient of variation has been calculated and the correlation dependencies between the elements of productivity are determined. The influence of factors genotype, environment and their interaction on the studied features is assessed. A low variation in the trait was recorded in the number of spikelets per spike, spike length and number of grains per spike. With high variation is characterized the number of grains per other spikes. The strongest correlation dependence is observed between features grain number per plant with grain number per other spikes, followed by the grain weight per plant with grain weight per other spikes. The plant height is in negative correlation with all studied elements of productivity. The factor genotype has the greatest influence on the plant height and the cultivation conditions have a leading role in the productive tillering.

Marsupenaeus japonicus is one of the most important penaeid shrimp farmed in China. As a typical closed thelycum penaeid shrimp, the morphological changes in the spermatozoa during the journey from the testis to the female thelycum remain unclear in this species. Herein, an ultrastructural comparison of the spermatozoa in the testis (TE), vas deferens (VD), and the spermatophore in the male terminal ampoule (SA) and the female seminal receptacle (SR) of M. japonicus was conducted. The spermatozoa in the VD, SA and SR shared typical morphological characteristics of the spermatozoa of decapod dendrobranchiates, including a spherical main body and a slender spike. However, no spike was observed in the spermatozoa collected from the TE. The spike of the spermatozoa in the SA and SR was longer than that in the VD, whereas no significant difference in spike length was observed between the spermatozoa from the SA and SR. The basic ultrastructure of the spermatozoa in the VD, SA and SR was similar, except for some differences in the nuclear region. The main body of the spermatozoa comprised the cytoplasmic band, nuclear region, several small and large vesicles, and the basal region of the acrosomal structure. The nuclear materials in the spermatozoa from the TE were more electron‐dense than those in the VD, SA and SR, while the nuclear region of the spermatozoa was more electron‐lucent in the SR than in the VD and SA. These findings preliminarily reveal the ultrastructural changes in M. japonicus spermatozoa during the journey from the testis to the female thelycum and provided a theoretical foundation for developing effective artificial insemination methods in this species.

Genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and correlation coefficients were studied in 104 genotypes of wheat genotypes for yield and yield contributing traits. Both GCV and PCV were found to be moderate for flag leaf area, biological yield per plant, grain yield per plant and ash content. The days to ear emergence, days to maturity, plant height, harvest index and 1000-grain weight low GCV and PCV values were observed. Number of productive tillers per plant and spike length recorded moderate value of PCV and low value of GCV. High estimate of heritability in narrow sense was recorded for number of productive tillers per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index and grain yield per plant, while it was moderate for days to ear emergence, days to maturity, plant height, flag leaf area, spike length, grains per spike and low heritability were recorded for 1000-grain weight. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance in per cent of mean was recorded for biological yield per plant and grain yield per plant. Grain yield per plant exhibited highly significant and positive association with 1000-grain weight, harvest index, biological yield per plant, grains per spike, number of productive tillers per plant and days to maturity.

The increasing economic importance of triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.) makes this synthetic hybrid cereal an interesting object of genetic studies. Genomic regions (QTL) of morphological winter triticale traits were determined using the mapping population of 89 doubled haploids lines (DHs) developed from F1 hybrid of cv. ‘Hewo’ and cv. ‘Magnat’ accompanied with the genetic map consisting of 20 linkage groups assigned to the A (7), B (7), and R (6) genomes (total of 3539 DArT, SNP-DArT and SSR markers, length of 4997.4 cM). Five independent experiments were performed in the field and greenhouse controlled conditions. A total of 12 major QTLs located on 2B, 5A, 5R, and 6B chromosomes connected to the stem length, the plant height, the spike length, the number of the productive spikelets per spike, the number of grains per spike, and the thousand kernel weight were identified by a composite interval mapping (CIM).

Study was initiated with the objectives to identify high yielder malt barley varieties. The trial has been conducted during 2014 main season and laid out on randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance was computed using SAS, 2002. At Dabat, result showed that highly significant difference among the varieties (p < 0.05) for all agronomic traits. At Debark and Wegera the analysis of variance indicated that highly significant to a significant difference among varieties at p < 0.05 for days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, thousand seed weight and grain yield, and seed per spike. The combined analysis of variance showed that highly significant difference among varieties for days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, and grain yield. The location also contributed the significant effect for all yield components except biomass and grain yield. The interaction of location by genotype showed the highly significant difference on days to maturity and plant height. The average heading days ranged from 70-81 and the average maturity days were ranged from 127-136. Among the tested varieties, IBON-174/03 and SABINI exhibited highest grain yield. The overall combined analysis indicated that IBON-174/03 and SABINI were high yielder and well adapted at the tested sites. Therefore those varieties are recommended for production in the testes sites, and similar agro-ecologies.

Two consecutive cycles of selection were imposed on five F2 populations of bread wheat. The first cycle was a divergent selection for spike length conducted in favorable environment (optimal sowing date) and the response was measured under favorable and heat stress conditions of a late sowing date. Positive responses to selection for longer spikes were obtained under favorable (13.43%) heat stress (8.66%) conditions, whereas the responses for shorter spikes were 2.24 and 5.02% in the two environments, respectively. The realized heritability of spike length was greater under favorable conditions (0.25-0.56) than under heat stress (0.18- 0.41). Concurrent positive responses to selection for longer spikes were obtained in grain yield per spike under favorable (25.35%) and heat stress (13.65%) environments. Selection for greater number of grains per spike imposed on F3 plants selected for spike length under heat stress resulted in significant responses (14.65%). Selection for greater number of grains per spike resulted in correlated responses in grain yield per spike (17.64%). The concurrent positive responses produced in spike length in F4 with selection for number of grains per spike (averaged 9.20%) was almost equal to that produced by the direct selection in F3 (8.66%), indicating that selection advance effected in F3 has been maintained in F4. High F4/F3 regression was obtained for spike length under heat stress (b = 0.85 ± 0.07), indicating high heritability. In conclusion, phenotypic selection for longer spikes under heat stress followed by a cycle of selection for number of grains per spike was capable of improving heat tolerance in wheat.

Objectives: To estimate the heritability in a broad sense and the genetic advance F2 generation of bread wheat. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The collected data were statistically analyzed for analysis of variance by Gomez and Gomez, heritability in a broad sense and the genetic advance was worked out after Falconer. Findings: The results showed that genotypes parents, percent x crosses were highly significant at 0.01 level for days to 75% heading, days to 90% maturity, plant height (cm), tiller plant1 , spike length (cm), spikelet spike-1, grain spike-1, grain yield plant-1 (g), Biological yield and harvest index (%) while seed index (1000 grain weight, g) showed non-significant for parents vs crosses. Mean performance of six commercial and F2 hybrids revealed that early heading (62.2) presented by Kiran-95 and his F2 hybrids (59.95%), days to 75% heading taken by Benazir x TD-1, minimum days (114.8) to 90% maturity shown by variety TJ-83, dwarf plant (59.82cm) shown by variety Hamal. The maximum tiller plant-1 (13.76) produced by cross Benazir x TD-1, longer spike length (9.95cm) shown by the variety Kiran-95, while the genotype TD-1 produced maximum number of spikelet spike-1 (20.76), maximum grain spike-1 (56.03) highest grain yield plant-1 (30.53 g) and highest biological yield was obtained from the cross TD-1 x Sindhu. Highest weight for 1000-grain was recorded for TD-1, (50.20). The highest biological yield was shown by Benazir (61.03g). Among the hybrids, higher grain yield plant-1 displayed by Sindhu x Kiran-95, within the F2 population maximum harvest index of 56.45% was observed in Sindhu x TJ-83. The cross Benazir x TD-1 showed higher heritability for tiller plant-1, spike length, spikelets spike-1 and harvest index. While Benazir x Sindhu exhibited higher heritability for grain spike-1, plant height. Variety TD-1, Kiran-95, and Sindhu may be selected in further breeding programs and crossed Benazir x TD-1 could be evaluated in the subsequent generation and selection could be made on spikelets spike-1 and harvest index. Application/Improvements: The variety TD-1 performs better in spikelets spike-1, grains spike-1, grain yield plant-1, seed index, while variety Kiran-95 had higher in spike length, and harvest index. Keywords: Bread Wheat, F2 Generation, Genetic Advance, Heritability

Lilium and tuberose are promising geophytic flowers, which have high market demand in global floral markets. A study was conducted to optimize planting densities for cut lilium and tuberose production. Bulbs of Asiatic lily ‘Brunello’ and tuberose ‘Single’ were planted on 7.5 cm, 15.0 cm and 22.5 cm between bulbs while ridge were spaced at 60 cm apart. Lilium bulbs planted at 22.5 cm took 185 d, while tuberose took 101 d to produce flowers as compared to 7.5 cm spacing (173 d and 93 d, respectively). Bulbs of lilium and tuberose planted at 22.5 cm resulted in tallest plants with highest leaf area for both tested species, 69.1 cm and 11.4 cm2 for lilium and 110.6 cm and 30.2 cm2 for tuberose, respectively. Both species had highest number of florets with longer stem/ spike length and stem/spike diameter when planted 22.5 cm apart, while close planting further decrease number of buds/florets and stem/spike length. Similar results were recorded for fresh weight of a stem, while vase life and dry weight of a stem were relatively less affected by plant spacing. However, lilium and tuberose bulbs when planted at 22.5 cm plant spacing produced higher number of best quality stems for market as compared to other planting densities.

Simulating drought stress during the breeding process has been proposed as a way to select varieties under naturally non-stressful conditions. The aim of the study was to characterise the genetic basis of the response of 111 spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties and landraces to chemical desiccation and to rain-out shelter drought. The effect of the rain-out shelter was a 15% reduction in plant height, spike length and thousand seed weight (TSW); in contrast, the desiccant treatment induced a 15% reduction in seed number, a 35-72% loss in TSW and a reduction in subsequent germination of 12%. A genome-wide association analysis revealed 263 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs), of which 246 involved days to anthesis, plant height, spike length, number of spikelets, seed number, TSW and germination from the non-treated plants. Only four and five MTAs involved TSW from plants grown under the rain-out shelter and the chemical desiccation, respectively, and harboured the Sugar-Dependent6 gene. Seven MTAs involved seed number for chemical desiccated plants. Both, chemical desiccation and rain-out shelter drought identified same tolerant genotypes. Concluding, both approaches are suitable to simulate different drought scenarios. However, there was a strong environmental impact for chemical desiccation which may increase the complexity of this tolerance mechanism.

Under drought conditions, barley grain related traits are affected by water stress and reduced grain yield potential. Therefore, two experiments were carried out at the Kalar technical institute for two seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 testing five hybrid of tow-rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under irrigated and unirrigated conditions. Genotypes were assessed for thousand grain weight, grain filling duration and grains number per particular of spike length. The average of both years , drought significantly reduced thousand grain weight by 7.63 g and shortened grain filling duration by 44.3 oCd, but not affected grains number may due to genetically controlling this trait. Genotypes 3//4 and 3//14 scored highest values of thousand grain weight and grain filling duration under both irrigated and drought conditions. However, genotype 3//1 was least affected by drought for both thousand grain weight and grain filling duration indicating higher resistance against water stress for this genotype. Regression analysis showed a positive relationship between thousand grain weight and grain filling duration under both irrigated (R2=0.85; P=0.03) and unirrigated (R2=0.80; P=0.04) conditions averaging over seasons showing the importance of post-anthesis period to increase the single grain weight. The correlation between thousand grain weight and grains number, however, was negative for the cross-year mean under drought conditions (R2=0.75; P=0.05) may due to the trade-off between these two traits.

Background: In breeding programs, the selection of cultivars with the highest yield potential consisted in the selection of the yield per se, which resulted in cultivars with higher grains per spike (GN) and occasionally increased grain weight (GW) (main numerical components of the yield). In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for GW, GN and spike fertility traits related to GN determination were mapped using two doubled haploid (DH) populations (Baguette Premium 11 × BioINTA 2002 and Baguette 19 × BioINTA 2002). Results: In total 305 QTL were identified for 14 traits, out of which 12 QTL were identified in more than three environments and explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variation in at least one environment. Eight hotspot regions were detected on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 3A, 5A, 5B, 7A and 7B in which at least two major and stable QTL sheared confidence intervals. QTL on two of these regions (R5A.1 and R5A.2) have previously been described, but the other six regions are novel. Conclusions: Based on the pleiotropic analysis within a robust physiological model we conclude that two hotspot genomic regions (R5A.1 and R5A.2) together with the QGW.perg-6B are of high relevance to be used in marker assisted selection in order to improve the spike yield potential. All the QTL identified for the spike related traits are the first step to search for their candidate genes, which will allow their better manipulation in the future. EEA Marcos Juárez Fil: Pretini, Nicole. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Pretini, Nicole. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNNOBA). Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Fil: Vanzetti, Leonardo Sebastian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Marcos Juárez; Argentina Fil: Vanzetti, Leonardo Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Terrile, Ignacio Ismael. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Departamento de Trigo; Argentina Fil: Donaire, Guillermo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Marcos Juarez; Argentina. Fil: González, Fernanda Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Fil: González, Fernanda Gabriela. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNNOBA). Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: González, Fernanda Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino; Argentina.

Agronomic traits such as heading date (HD), plant height (PH), thousand grain weight (TGW), and spike length (SL) are important factors affecting wheat yield. In this study, we constructed a high-density genetic linkage map using the Wheat55K SNP Array to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for these traits in 207 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). A total of 37 QTLs were identified, including 9 QTLs for HD, 7 QTLs for PH, 12 QTLs for TGW, and 9 QTLs for SL, which explained 3.0–48.8% of the phenotypic variation. Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) markers were developed based on sequencing data and used for validation of the stably detected QTLs on chromosomes 3A, 4B and 6A using 400 RILs. A QTL cluster on chromosome 4B for PH and TGW was delimited to a 0.8 Mb physical interval explaining 12.2–22.8% of the phenotypic variation. Gene annotations and analyses of SNP effects suggested that a gene encoding protein Photosynthesis Affected Mutant 68, which is essential for photosystem II assembly, is a candidate gene affecting PH and TGW. In addition, the QTL for HD on chromosome 3A was narrowed down to a 2.5 Mb interval, and a gene encoding an R3H domain-containing protein was speculated to be the causal gene influencing HD. The linked KASP markers developed in this study will be useful for marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding, and the candidate genes provide new insight into genetic study for those traits in wheat.

The spike traits of wheat can directly affect yield. F(2) and F(2:3) lines derived from the cross of the multi-spikelet female 10-A and the uni-spikelet male BE89 were used to detect QTLs for spike length (SL), total spikelet number per spike (TSS), kernel number per spike (KNS) and thousand-kernel weight (TKW) in four different environments. A total of 1098 SNP and 5 SSR were used to construct genetic map of 2398.1 cM with the average distance of 2.2 cM between markers. A total of 11 QTLs were identified for spike traits, including three QTLs for SL, five QTLs for TSS, two QTLs for KNS and one QTL for TKW. The QTLs mapped to chromosomes 2D, 4A, 6A, 7A and 7B explained 8.2–37.8% of the phenotypic variation in single environment. The major QTL confidence interval with distance of 0.5 cM was located on chromosome 4A and detected in multiple environments, which can explain more than 30% of the phenotypic variation for SL, TSS and KNS. Combining IWGSC RefSeq v1.0 and RNA-seq data for 10-A and BE89, we identified 16 genes expressed on spike or grain in four QTL regions. These findings provide insights into improving wheat yield through increasing spikletes in wheat, particularly through the use of the multi-spikelet female 10-A for breeding. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s12298-020-00823-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The genetic variability allows selection of superior genotypes and makes it possible to increase the frequency of favorable genes through appropriate selection methods that provide genetic material’s retrieval adapted to environmental conditions prevalent in the different producing regions. Thus, this work was performed with the goal of studying the genetic divergence of populations of open pollination of corn in the South of Para State. To this end, two tests were made of corn genotypes competition, being the first to top P (100 kg ha-1 of P) and the second for low P (50 kg ha-1 of P). The study of genetic divergence was performed using together with the data from the two trials. The experimental design used in each trial was randomized with ten treatments (open-pollinated maize genotypes) and three repetitions. The characteristics studied were: plant Height, Ear height, the diameter of the Spike, Spike length, grain in the row numbers and productivity. In the study of genetic divergence was employed the Tocher optimization method. The importance of characters, was the Foundation of Singh. Three medium-sized groups were formed, which were in the same genotypes 08 groups, and two other genotypes (AG 1051 and AL BANDEIRANTE.), were in different groups. The characters presented more collaboration for the genetic divergence were productivity, plant height and ear height.

The permanent need for efficient plant breeding comes from the increment of human population, which is projected to reach 9.7 million by 2050. Novel approaches could be used to reach these goals more rapidly, raising the question of efficiency, as well. Spike length is one of the important components of grain yield formation in wheat. The influence of individual plan traits is getting more important to grain yield formation per area unit in stressful growing conditions, which are increasingly present due to global climate changes. The objectives of the present research were three-fold: (i) to determine the influence of a genotype, environment and their interaction on spike length and to evaluate stability of the trait; (ii) to present cause-causing links on a graphical example; (iii) to transform a number of possibly correlated variables into a smaller number of uncorrelated variables called principal components. Samples were obtained from 96 winter wheat cultivars grown in 2011/12 and 2012/13 on two locations. The wheat genotype population was profiled with 28 microsatellites. The ANOVA of the total phenotypic variation of the experiment shows that genotypes took the largest portion, followed by the influence of the GE interaction. Additional analysis of the GE interaction using the PCA analysis shows a statistical significance of the first two main components. In the conducted research, the dispersion of the points represents two subpopulations, but the geographical origin could not explain the grouping of genotypes within the same, so the division into two groups was done on the basis of their lines of descent.

A study was carried out to determine the association between different quantitative characters of eighteen genotypes of tuberose cultivars single. The highest positive and significant association was recorded for spike yield with plant height (0.33), rachis length (0.30), number of florets per spike (0.34), weight of single floret (0.63), matured bud weight (0.66), duration of flowering (0.52). The results of path coefficient analysis indicated that the weight of the floret (1.48) had very high positive direct effect on spike yield per plant followed by length of the floret (0.84) number of florets per spike (0.45) and duration of flowering (0.41). Spike length (0.27) had moderate positive direct effect. Plant height (0.16) and number of leaves (0.17) showed low positive direct effect and rest of the characters had negligible positive direct effect on spike yield per plant. The results of the study indicates that the above mentioned characters can be used for the improvement of tuberose.

Purpose. To determine response of spring barley varieties to action of different concentrations of mutagens in M1. To study effect of the mutagens on the formation of agronomic traits in M1, M2 spring barley varieties. Methods. The experiments with the varieties of Myronivka breeding Virazh and Talisman Myronivskyi were carried out in 2016, 2017 in the conditions of the experimental field of the Scientific-Research Center of Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University as well as in laboratory. The seeds were soaked in solutions of mutagen hydroxylamine (HA) at concentrations 1.0 % (high); 0.5 % (medium), and 0.1 % (low) and mutagen nitrosomethylurea (NMU) at concentrations 0.1 % (high), 0.01 % (medium) and 0.001 % (low). Seeds soaked in water were as the control. The exposition was 18 hours. In M1 seed vigor in laboratory conditions and field germination were evaluated. In M2 plant height, main spike length, grain number and grain weight per main spike were determined. Seeds harvested from the control variants in M1 were used as the control in M2. Results. As compared with HA the mutagen NMU at high-concentration caused high level of depression in spring barley seedlings resulted in decrease of field germination for the variety Vіrazh to 24.0 %, for the variety Talisman Myronivskyi to 51.0 %. When treating seeds with NMU at high concentration, in M1 of the variety Vіrаzh the plants with loose and long (12.7 cm) spike were obtained, whereas 10.0 cm in control. In М2 the variety Vіrazh families were obtained (10/4, 11/2б and 11/4) with significant decrease in plant height (53.0–53.3 cm, control 60.2 cm) which were obtained by the action of mutagen NMU at medium and low concentrations. When mutagen HA in low concentration and mutagen HMM in high concentration acting on seeds of the variety Vіrazh, families (5/1 and 9/2) were obtained which significantly exceeded control in main spike length and grains number per main spike. Conclusions. The indices seed vigor, field germination and main spike length were the most informative ones for mutagenic action in spring barley M1. The action of mutagen NMU in high concentrations caused higher level of depression than mutagen HA. Seed germination was influenced by mutagen concentration, mutagen nature and genotype. In M2 of the varieties Virazh and Talisman Myronivskyi the appearance of modified forms in terms of plant height, main spike length, grain number and grain weight per main spike have been marked. The best results were achieved by the action of high concentration of NMU and high and low concentration of HA The genotype, mutagen concentration and the nature of the mutagen influenced on the formation of yield components in M2. Studies on mutant generations will continue in M3 and M4 to search valuable mutations.

The objective of this study was to determine the cycle duration in days and the quantitative parameters, i.e. stem length, spike length and stem diameter of gladiolus floral stems as a function of the planting date and locations in the Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil. Field experiments were established between 2014-2015 in three locations (Frederico Westphalen, Itaqui and Santa Maria). The experimental design was a complete randomized block, with six gladiolus cultivars in three distinct planting dates at each location as treatments. The shift from vegetative to reproductive stage, the stem length, spike length and stem diameter were evaluated. Data was statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test. When planted during late July and early August, cultivars of early cycle (‘Purple Flora’, ‘Rose Friendship’ and ‘White Friendship’) and intermediate cycle (‘Green Star’ and ‘Jester’), produced floral stems of gladiolus in the desired patterns besides as well as having a shorter growth cycle than late cultivars (‘Gold Field’), being recommended for commercial cultivation in Southern Brazil. RESUMO O objetivo neste estudo foi determinar a duração do ciclo em dias e os parâmetros quantitativos de hastes florais de gladíolo em função da data de plantio e do local de cultivo no Rio Grande do Sul/Brasil. Experimentos de campo foram estabelecidos entre 2014-2015 em três locais (Frederico Westphalen, Itaqui e Santa Maria). O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completamente casualizados, com seis cultivares de gladíolo em três diferentes datas de plantio em cada local como tratamento. Foram avaliadas a mudança do estágio vegetativo para o reprodutivo, o comprimento da haste, comprimento da espiga e diâmetro da haste no ponto de colheita. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pela ANOVA e pelo teste de Tukey. Quando plantadas durante o final de julho e início de agosto, cultivares de ciclo precoce (‘Purple Flora’, ‘Rose Friendship’ e ‘White Friendship’) e intermediário (‘Green Star’ e ‘Jester’) produzem hastes florais de gladíolo dentro dos padrões desejados, além de possuir um menor ciclo de crescimento do que cultivares tardias (‘Gold Field’), sendo recomendadas para cultivo comercial no Sul do Brasil.

This investigation was carried out at the Experimental Farm of Gemmeiza Agriculture Research Station, Egyptduring the three successive seasons,i.e., 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 to study nature of gene action for yield andits components, heterosis expression, heritability and expected genetic advance under normal and water stress conditions.Six populations model (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) was used in this study for three crosses; (I) Gemmeiza 11× Giza168, (II) Giza 171× Shandawel 1 and (III) Gemmeiza 9× Misr1. Means of the six generations were recorded for eightcharacters, i.e. number of spikes per plant, plant height, main spike length, number of spikelets per main spike, number ofkernels per main spike, main spike yield, grain yield per plant and 1000- kernels weight. Results revealed that thecoincidence of sign and magnitude of heterosis and inbreeding depression was also detected for most characters in thethree crosses under both conditions. Study of generation means analysis revealed that additive, dominance and epistasiceffects were involved in the inheritance of yield and its components. Additive (a) and dominance (d) genes effects weresignificant for most studied characters under both conditions. High heritability estimates in broad sense were detected forall studied characters in the three crosses under both conditions, except, main spike yield in the first cross under stress.Narrow sense heritability estimates were found to be high for most characters under both conditions. Moderate to highgenetic advance (Δg%) was detected for all characters of the three crosses under the two environments, except, plantheight for the three crosses under normal condition and first and second cross under stress condition. The highestestimates of narrow sense heritability associated with highest genetic advance for most of the studied characters in most ofcrosses under both conditions indicated sufficient improvement of the variable characters. These results indicated thepossibility of practicing selection in early generations for these characters.

Purpose. To reveal plant breeding and genetic characte­ristics of winter six-row barley varieties by spike length and to identify effective sources of high combining ability under conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. The research was carried out at the V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat of NAAS in 2012/13–2014/15 on winter six-rowed barley varieties ‘Paladin Myronivskyi’, ‘Zherar’, ‘Selena Star’, ‘Strimkyi’, ‘Cartel’, ‘Existens’, ‘Cinderella’ as well as on F 1 derived from crossing them at complete diallel scheme (7´7). Analysis of variance, combining ability and genetic parameters were calculated in accordance to conventional methods (B. A. Dospekhov, 1985; M. A. Fedin et al., 1980). Results. The significant differences in spike length were revealed, which allowed to estimate combining ability and to calculate parameters of genetic variation. The high effects of general combining ability (GCA) were peculiar to the ‘Strimkyi’ (g i = 0.64–0.76) and ‘Paladin Myronivskyi’ (g i = 0.34–0.53) varieties along the years. Positive GCA effects of middle and of high levels were marked for the variety ‘Existens’ (g i = 0.07–0.23). Graphical analysis and parameters of genetic variation showed the presence of intra-locus overdominance in 2012/13 ( = 1.16) and partial dominance in 2013/14 ( = 0.69) and in 2014/15 ( = 0.82). Significant expression of epistasis was not detected. During the years, dominance was directed on external traits increasing and was under control of dominant alleles (effects). Conclusions. Breeding and genetic traits of spike length of winter barley varieties in scheme of complete diallel crosses were revealed for the first time under the conditions of the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. The variations in genetic control of the trait from overdominance in dry 2012/13 to the partial dominance in wet 2013/14 and 2014/15 were revealed. ‘Strimkyi’, ‘Paladin Myronivskyi’, ‘Existens’ varieties were identified with increased GCA for spike length. These varieties have high value in breeding.

Nigerosylmaltooligosaccharide (Nmo) has different degrees of polymerarization (DP) of nigerosyl oligosaccharides and maltooligosaccharides. We investigated the effects of treatments with Nmo, glucose, sucrose, and their combinations on the vase life of cut snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) flowers. To apply these sugars, the cut ends of flower spikes were dipped into these sugar solutions. Treatment with 30 g L−1 Nmo promoted bud development, resulting in flower opening at the upper part of the spikes. The Nmo treatment also extended the vase life of cut snapdragons more than glucose and sucrose treatments when vase life was evaluated as the time to when all flowers wilted. However, there were few open flowers, flowers were smaller and aurone levels were lower in the Nmo treatment, suggesting that treatment with Nmo alone is not sufficient for improving the vase life of cut snapdragons. Combined treatments of Nmo with glucose and sucrose increased the number of open flowers and significantly extended vase life more than treatment with glucose or sucrose alone. The deleterious effects of Nmo, such as the reduction in flower size and suppression of pigmentation, were alleviated by these combined treatments. Nmo was fractionated using a carbon celite column into DP2, DP3, DP4, and DP> 4. Spike length was significantly increased by fractions DP4 and DP>4, suggesting that oligosaccharides containing these fractions largely contribute to the development of spikes. In conclusion, Nmo is a readily available oligosaccharide that could be used in the manufacture of preservatives to improve the vase life of cut snapdragons.

Fourteen genotypes including two checks varieties were evaluated for agronomic traits and their adaptability study on two different sowing dates at the experimental farm of Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture, Tarnab, Peshawar, Pakistan. The combined analysis of variance showed that there were significant variations among genotypes, dates of sowing and their interaction. Based on regression coefficient (bi ) and mean square deviation from linear regression for the individual genotypes regarding the parameters Viz. plant height, spike length, spikelets spike-1, number of tillers plant-1 and grain yield (kg) plot-1 under consideration, most of the genotypes responded negatively with respect to all the traits under late planting condition. However, some of the genotypes such as CT-09117, CT-09137, CT-09141 and SRN-09111 revealed stable performance with respect to the yield assorted traits. They have been recommended for the late planting conditions where sowing is delayed due to some unavoidable circumstances than the other elite wheat genotypes

The results of evaluation of the breeding value of 30 spring barley varieties of different genetic and geographical origin in terms of performance and plant structure elements in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in 2013-2016 are presented. Peculiarities of the factor effects and their interaction on the formation of the trait of interest were determined. Correlations between quantitative traits and plant performance, depending on hydrothermal growing conditions, were calculated. Varieties that are of greatest value for barley breeding as starting material were identified. The aim and tasks of the study . To evaluate 30 spring barley varieties for performance, plant structure elements and to select the most valuable starting material. Material and methods . The research was conducted in the Laboratory of Barley Breeding and Genetics of the Plant Production Institute named after VYa Yuriev of NAAS. Thirty spring barley varieties of different genetic and geographical origin were taken as the study material. Data were statistically processed by variance, correlation and cluster analyses. Results and discussion . Analysis of variance revealed peculiarities of the factor effects and their interaction on the formation of the traits of interest. The 1000-grain weight was mainly determined by the hydrothermal conditions of a year, while the spike length, grain number per spike, grain weight per spike and grain unit mainly depended on the genotype. The productive tillering capacity and plant performance were determined by interaction of these two factors. Correlation analysis revealed a compensatory effect for the plant performance: under the favorable conditions in2016, a strong correlation was noted between the performance and productive tillering capacity (r = 0.77); a medium correlation - between the performance, grain number per spike and grain weight per spike (r = 0.28 and r = 0.34, respectively). Under the dry conditions in 2013, the correlations changed, namely: it decreased to an insignificant level between the performance and productive tillering capacity (r = 0.18) and increased to strong levels between the performance, grain number per spike and grain weight per spike (r = 0.73 and r = 0.75, respectively). Cluster analysis categorized the investigated varieties into 4 clusters. Cluster 4 comprised varieties of the highest breeding value: Komandor, Mastvinster and Sebastian, combining high productive tillering capacity, grain weight per plant and grain unit. Conclusions. Thus, the study selected varieties Komandor, Mastvinster, Kangoo and Sebastian as the most valuable starting material in terms of plant performance and its individual elements for spring barley breeding

A study was conducted to identify the best heterotic cross for various agromorphological and some quality traits involving 10 parents and their 45 F1s excluding reciprocals during 2012-13 and 2013-14. The higher magnitude of heterosis for all the agromorphological and quality traits was not expressed in a single cross combination. It varied from cross to cross due to diverse genetic background of their parents. The highest heterobeltiosis (35.68%, 11.11%, 11.44%), average heterosis (38.97%, 9.13%, 10.26%) and standard heterosis (31.09%, 7.84%, 10.41%) for grain yield, spikelets per spike and grains per spike respectively, was showed by HD 3095 x RAJ 4246 and this cross also showed highly significant (at

An experiment was conducted to evaluate 4 cultivars of Gladiolus BARI Gladiolus 1, BARI Gladiolus 3, BARI Gladiolus 4 and BARI Gladiolus 5at experimental farm, On Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Alamnagar, Rangpur during 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. The aim of study was to evaluate the adaptability and performance of cultivar under the climatic conditions of Tista Mendar Floodplain Agro Ecological Zone in Bangladesh. Among the varieties BARI Gladiolus-5 performed excellent in terms of spike production in 2015-2016 and BARI Gladiolus-4 performed excellent in terms of spike production in 2016-2017. Among the varieties BARI Gladiolus-4performed excellent in terms of market value in both the years. Maximum spike length was observed in cultivars BARI Gladiolus-4 and BARI Gladiolus-5 remain attractive for longer time. Keeping in view the vegetative and reproductive characteristic cultivars BARI Gladiolus-4 was performed better and recommended for general cultivation. In 2015-2016 the highest gross return (BDT. 1383800 ha-1) as well as gross margin (BDT. 1005144 ha-1) was recorded in BARI Gladiolus-4. In 2016-2017 the highest gross return (BDT. 1318553ha-1) as well as gross margin (BDT. 927153 ha-1) was recorded in BARI Gladiolus-5.The lowest gross return as well as gross margin was obtained from yield BARI Gladiolus-1 in both the yearsTherefore, it could berecommended for commercial cultivation of gladiolusBARI gladiolus 4 and BARI gladiolus 5varietiesare best for Tista Meander Floodplain Agro-Ecological Zone in Bangladesh.Progressive Agriculture 28 (3): 198-203, 2017

This research was conducted in order to identify the best barley genotypes that can be grown under water stress conditions. This experiment was conducted in a split plot design with three replications at Experi­mental Farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station, (ARC), Egypt, during the two successive seasons 2014/15 and 2015/16. Ten barley genotypes (Giza 123, Giza 126, Giza 129, Giza 130, Giza 131, Giza 132, Giza 133, Giza 134, Giza 135 and Giza 136) were evaluated for drought tolerance by measuring yield performance under normal irrigation and water stress conditions. The results indicated that, all the studied characters were significantly affected by stress in both growing seasons, except for total chlorophyll, spike length, no of grains/spike and harvest index, in both seasons. Stress reduced grain yield (ardab/fad.) by reducing the number of spikes/m2 and 1000-kernel weight. This study showed that, the best genotypes of barley for all parameters studied under stress condition were Giza 133 followed by Giza 134 in both seasons.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense, associated with N rates and sources, in soil of the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna), on the grain yield of irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum). The experiment was carried out under a no-tillage system in a Typic Haplustox. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with four replicates, in a 2x5x2 factorial arrangement: two N sources (urea and urea with NBPT urease inhibitor); five N rates applied as topdressing (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1); and with or without seed inoculation with A.brasilense. The increase in the N rates positively affected spike length, number of spikelets and of grains per spike, number of spikes per meter, N accumulation in the straw, leaf chlorophyll content, and grain yield of irrigated wheat, regardless of the use of NBPT urease inhibitor with conventional urea. Singly, inoculation with A.brasilense does not affect production components and grain yield, despite the increase in N content in wheat straw. The inoculation with A.brasilense, associated with the application of 140 kg ha-1 N, provides the highest grain yield of irrigated wheat cropped after corn in low-altitude Cerrado. Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da inoculação com Azospirillum brasilense, associada a doses e fontes de N, em solo de Cerrado, sobre a produtividade de grãos de trigo (Triticum aestivum) irrigado. O experimento foi desenvolvido em sistema plantio direto, em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em arranjo fatorial 2x5x2: duas fontes de N (ureia e ureia com inibidor da urease NBPT); cinco doses de N em cobertura (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg ha-1); e com ou sem inoculação das sementes com A.brasilense. O aumento nas doses de N apresentou efeito positivo no comprimento de espiga, número de espiguetas e de grãos por espiga, número de espigas por metro, acúmulo de N na palha, conteúdo de clorofila na folha e produtividade de grãos de trigo irrigado, independentemente do uso de inibidor de urease NBPT com ureia. Isoladamente, a inoculação com A.brasilense não afeta os componentes de produção e a produtividade de grãos, apesar de incrementar o N na palhada de trigo. A inoculação com A.brasilense, associada à aplicação de 140 kg ha-1 de N, propicia as maiores produtividades de grãos de trigo irrigado, cultivado após milho em Cerrado de baixa altitude.