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The present research focuses on the identification of stable trait specific genetic resources across the five semiarid environments located in the four states of India. The study illustrated the existence of a wide range of variations for most of the characters among the sunflower genotypes, which provides opportunities for genetic gain through selection or hybridization. Genotype x Environment (G x E) interaction was significant for all traits except for days to 50 % flowering, maturity days and 100-seed weight which means different genotypes responded differently to environments for the rest of the traits. Based on per se performance across the locations GMU 296 and HOHAL 30 can be considered as high yielding and high oil content accessions. Based on biplot, stability and per se performance genotypes GMU 806, GMU 635, GMU 296, GMU 802 and check DRSF113, can be considered as a medium to high yielding with medium oil content and medium maturity genotypes across the environments and can be considered as an ideal genotype across semi-arid environments. Character association indicated that among the seven traits, seed yield per plant had a significant negative association with oil content. The traits 50 % flowering and maturity days fall under one group and showed the more or less similar type of pattern in the expression of the traits by heat map approach. Based on diversity analysis identified genotypes from the second cluster can be utilized for the development of high yielding, medium oil content and medium duration diverse gene pool in sunflower for semi-arid environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castor ( Ricinus communis L.) is a non-edible industrial oilseed crop. Its oil has multiferous applications in industry. A vast castor germplasm collection of 3289 accessions is being maintained at ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, India. The large size of castor germplasm has become a problem for evaluation, conservation and utilization. Hence, a core-set comprising 165 accessions representing diversity in the entire collection was developed. Though the core set is genetically diverse, its utilization in breeding programme is not picking up because of its still large size. In order to enhance efficacy of core set, an attempt was made in to identify core set accessions possessing resistance to major biotic stresses such as Fusarium wilt, root rot, gray mold and leafhopper, and desirable qualitative and quantitative traits. Screening against biotic stresses was done under artificial infestation conditions in field and greenhouse/ploy house at multilocations over years. Evaluation for stability of quantitative and qualitative traits was done at multilocations under rainfed and irrigated conditions. This study has thus identified 26 core set accessions possessing resistance to wilt, root rot, gray mold and leafhopper, and high ricinoleic acid content, high yield and seed weight and early maturity. These accessions would serve as instant basic resources for utilization in breeding programmes to improve castor for resistance to major biotic stresses as well for yield, ricinoleic acid content and early maturity. They also play an important role in diversifying the genetic base of working collection of castor breeders for developing improved cultivars with broad genetic base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]