Background: Collar rot of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) caused by Aspergillus niger is a significant constraint in groundnut cultivation and responsible for huge economic losses in India including Rajasthan. 
 
Methods: By surveying of eight major groundnut growing districts of Rajasthan, India, one representative Aspergillus niger isolate from each district was established (ANBK-01= Bikaner, ANCH-02= Churu, ANDA-03= Dausa, ANJP-04= Jaipur, ANJL-05= Jalore, ANJD-06= Jodhpur, ANNG-07= Nagaur and ANSK-08= Sikar) for studying variability in the pathogen as well as to know the response of groundnut varieties to the highly virulent isolate. The colony and spore characteristics were observed for cultural and morphological variability. For resistance response to the disease, ten varieties (M-13, RG-633-9, RG-382, Girnar-2, RG-604, RG-578, Gajraj 10, RG-510, RG-632-1 and RG-644) were evaluated in the field for two consecutive years against a highly virulent Aspergillus niger (ANJP-04) isolate.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Our investigations cleared that all the isolates were showed cultural and morphological variability such as shape, colour and size of colony and size of conidia, conidiophores and columella. Isolate (ANJP-04) collected from Khejroli village of Chomu tehsil in Jaipur district showed maximum mycelial growth, conidia diameter, length and diameter of conidiophores and length and diameter of columella, early sporulation and found most virulent as it produced higher disease incidence (54.43%). Ten released varieties of groundnut in the field conditions, revealed that none of the variety was found completely free from the disease whereas RG-644, M-13 and RG-510 were found resistant while RG-604, Girnar-2, Gajraj-10 and RG-632-1 were found moderately resistant and rest were found susceptible to highly susceptible to the disease. Conclusively, it can be finalized that famers may cultivate these resistant varieties in areas where collar rot is a severe constraint. The conclusion of this study can also be utilized to screen varieties/genotypes of groundnut against highly virulent isolate for sustainability of breeding material to the disease effectively.

Variability and Virulence Analysis of Aspergillus niger Isolates Causing Collar Rot of Groundnut

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The main cause for low yield in greengram is its susceptibility to Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV) which is the most prevalent and destructive viral pathogen cause 85% yield lose. Inter specific hybridization between Vigna radiata and Vigna mungo could be an alternate approach to develop MYMV resistant genotypes in greengram which leads to additional source of creating variability for desirable attributes including yield, nutritional quality, biotic and abiotic stresses. 
 
Methods: The present investigation was carried out at National Pulses Research Centre (NPRC), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vamban during 2016-2017. Interspecific hybridization has been effected between Vigna radiata var. VBN (Gg)2, VBN (Gg) 3 (as females) and Vigna mungo Var. Mash 114 (as male) during Summer 2016. The interspecific F1 hybrids, F2 and F3 populations were evaluated during Kharif 2016, Rabi 2016-17 and summer 2017 respectively. The F2 and F3 populations were evaluated for days to 1st flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of branches / plant, number of clusters / plant, number of pods / clusters, pod length (cm), number of seeds / pod, number of pods / plant, single plant yield (g.). The MYMV resistance has been confirmed under infector row method using CO 5 as susceptible check variety. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), Heritability (h2) in broad sense, genetic advance as per cent of mean, Skewness and Kurtosis were estimated for yield and yield components. 
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Result: Four true F1 plants were recovered in Vigna radiata var. VBN (Gg)2 x Vigna mungo Var. Mash 114 cross combination. The fertile F1 had the shallow lobbed leaf of Vigna radiata var. VBN (Gg)2 and black colour seed of Vigna mungo var. Mash 114 with pollen fertility of 42.0 per cent and crossability of 12.50%. Most interestingly all the four interspecific F1 plants were free from MYMV disease. In F2 generation, only one healthy plant was survived which had a pod, stem and branching behaviour of blackgram and greengram characters of lobbed leaf and green seed colour. In F3 generation, number of branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length and seed yield per plant had high GCV, high PCV, high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean. Present study suggests that MYMV resistant cultivars of greengram can be explored through interspecific hybridization with Vigna mungo var. Mash 114 as a source of resistance and the hidden transgressive segregants can be recovered in F3 generation.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Interspecific Hybridization Between Vigna radiata and Vigna mungo Towards the Broadening of Genetic Base for MYMV Disease Resistance and Generating Variability</div>

Background: Rice plays a vital role in ensuring global food security, being a staple crop that feeds more than half of the global population. With rising food demand, improving its yield and quality is a prior demand that tends to meet the current changing scenarios and market demands. Unlocking its hidden genetic variability offers immense potential to breed superior varieties. Exploring heritability and genetic advance can accelerate the development of high-performing quality-rich rice cultivars to fulfill the need of future food demands and consumer preferences. 
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Methods: A study aimed to evaluate twenty-eight rice genotypes during Kharif 2023 for genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean for twenty-two yield and quality traits was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. 
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Result: ANOVA showed highly significant differences in the twenty-eight genotypes suggesting that considerable variability exists at the genotype levels. Test weight displayed high genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variability (PCV) followed by effective number of tillers per plant. For quality traits, alkali digestion value displayed the highest GCV and PCV, followed by gel consistency, elongation index and length-breadth ratio before cooking. The existence of considerable genetic variability in the genotypes studied for twenty-two traits was evident. All twenty-two traits exhibited higher heritability levels with varying degree of genetic advance. The traits PH, PL, SFP, TW, KLBC, KBBC, LBBC, ER, HRR, ADV, AC, GC and ADV showed high heritability values along with high genetic advance as per cent of mean. These traits have evidence of additive gene action and can be improved using direct selection methods.

Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Yield and Quality Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

<div style="text-align:justify">Analysis of genetic variability, heritability, correlation, path analysis, principal component and cluster analysis was carried for 25 blackgram genotypes grown in the foothills of Manipur. The results showed that phenotypic coefficients of variability recorded were higher than the genotypic coefficients of variability, irrespective of traits, demonstrating the effect of environment thereon. The present study revealed that the heritability (bs) estimates were maximum (&gt;50%) for the traits such as days taken to attain the 50% flowering, number of clusters/plant, number of pods/plant and 100 seed weight. The correlation and path analysis proved the selection of the yield attributes in blackgram based on the characters, viz., number of pods/plant and number of cluster/plants. The first three principal components, having the Eigen values more than 1, contributed 84.52% towards variability among the 25 genotypes screened for quantitative traits. Based on the average linkage, 25 genotypes were grouped into &nbsp;five (5) clusters.</div>

Genetic variability, principal component and cluster analyses in black gram under Foot-hills conditions of Manipur

<div>Background: Rice is the staple food for billions of people globally and contains numerous essential nutrients. Among the nutrients, zinc and iron are vital for several growth metabolisms in plants and humans. Therefore, deficiency of these nutrients causes hidden hunger. However, understandingthe genetic variability of rice germplasm is required for improvement of grain yield, yield contributing and nutritional traits. The present study aimed to examine the variability, heritability, character association and path analysis in zinc and iron-rich rice landraces. 
 
Methods: The present investigation was carried out with 37 genotypes of rice in a randomized block design with two replications during Kharif-2021 at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Maruteru. 
 
Result: The studies on variability, heritability and genetic advance as percent mean results revealed moderate GCV and PCV coupled with high heritability and genetic advance as percent mean recorded for days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, zinc content, iron content and grain yield plant-1 indicating scope for simultaneous improvement of these traits along with grain yield plant-1. Character associations and path analysis revealed positive and significant association coupled with a high positive direct effect for grains panicle-1, zinc content and productive tillers plant-1, indicating the effectiveness of direct phenotypic selection for these traits in the improvement of grain yield plant-1.</div>

Assessment of Genetic Variability, Character Association and Path Analysis for Yield and Quality Traits in Zinc and Iron Rich Landraces of Rice

Background: An impressive progress has been made in development and promotion of extra-large kabuli chickpea varieties in India during the past decade. As a result, India has become from importer to exporter of kabuli chickpea. The breeding programmes need to continue efforts on enhancing genetic gain in breeding kabuli chickpea varieties through increasing genetic variability and precision and efficiency of selection. This study was aimed at evaluating early segregating generations of chickpea to assess genetic variability for various important traits. 
 
Methods: Four large-seeded kabuli chickpea genotypes (JGK 2, KAK 2, KRIPA and ICC 17109); were crossed with a common small-seeded kabuli genotype (ICC 16644). F1, F2 and F3 along with parents were evaluated under normal field conditions and observations were recorded on various phenological, morphological and yield traits. Data was analysed to estimate genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in the segregating populations. 
 
Result: Considerably high variability was observed in F2 and F3 populations of all the crosses. Heritability estimates in broad sense were high coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean for days to first flower, days to pod initiation, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant and 100-seed weight which indicated the presence of additive gene action for these traits. Large number of transgressive segregants was identified for number of seeds per plant followed by number of pods per plant and yield per plant. The most promising transgressive segregants could be used in future breeding programme.

Identification of Transgressive Segregants and Variability Studies in Segregating Generations of Four Crosses in Chickpea

Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) plays a central role in growth and production through its influence on important metabolic activities in mammals which prompted its wide commercial use including use as a candidate marker. In present experiment, polymorphism at exon 2 and 3 of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone gene (GHRH) was studied using PCR&ndash;RFLP in crossbred and exotic pigs, commonly found in north east India. Restriction enzyme digestion of 467 bp &nbsp;PCR amplicon with AluI revealed 1 genotype. Comparison of obtained sequences revealed large scale nucleotide and residue substitutions. Observed polymorphism may be associated with wide variability in growth (rate) of different breeds of pig.

Genetic polymorphism of growth hormone releasing hormone&nbsp;gene in exotic and crossbred pigs

<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: The genetic variability in a population is the raw material for selection, because the estimation of genetic parameters depends on the variability present within the population. The pedigree analysis is a method to assess population genetic variability. An increase in the level of inbreeding disturbs the production performance of the animals. Hence, it is essential to assess the effect of inbreeding on production performance of the animals at regular intervals. The present study was conducted on data of Bharat Merino (BM) sheep with twin objectives of evaluating the population structure by pedigree analysis and possible effect of inbreeding on lamb growth and heritability estimates.&nbsp; Methods: The study was conducted on data consisting of a total of 9688 pedigree records of BM sheep born from 1975 to 2018 (43 years), out of which 9050 formed population reference (with both the parents known). ENDOG ver 4.8 program was used to generate different measures of genetic diversity. General Linear Model of SPSS 25.0 was used to ascertain the effect of inbreeding (Fi) or change in inbreeding (&Auml;Fi) on the lamb live weights. Using animal model with software WOMBAT, single trait linear mixed model analyses were performed. The heritability estimates and breeding values were obtained by including or excluding the inbreeding coefficient in the model to observe how the estimates of heritability varied with inclusion or exclusion of the inbreeding coefficient.&nbsp; Result: Effective number of founders (fe) was 56, constituting 11.39% founders in the population reference, while the effective number of ancestors (fa) was 43.The genetic contribution of the 15 most influent ancestors explained 50% of the genetic variability in the dataset. The ratio fe/fa, representing the effect of population bottleneck, was 1.302. The average inbreeding coefficients for the whole pedigree was 2.36%, while it was 3.84% for inbred animals. It was found that the inbreeding coefficient (Fi) increased with the addition of each generation to the pedigree. The average relatedness coefficient was 4.53% between members of the population.The effect of individual inbreeding (Fi) or the change in inbreeding (DFi) was not significant on the lamb live weights, except the effect of individual inbreeding (Fi) on three-month body weight and average daily gain (0-3month) and of change in inbreeding (DFi) on three-month body weight. From the analysis of the pedigree data of Bharat Merino sheep, it was found that the most of the measures of genetic diversity were within acceptable limits and the pedigree data was reasonably well maintained. When inbreeding was accounted for in the model, there were reductions in h2 estimates as well as the estimates of breeding values for both 3WT and ADG1 and consequently there were changes in ranking of animals for both 3WT and ADG1.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Genetic Variability of Bharat Merino Sheep Derived from Pedigree Information</div>

<div>Genetic variability among thirty chickpea genotypes with three replications utilising 19 yield, drought tolerance and mechanical harvestable traits was studied under rainfed and irrigated conditions at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, India. The analysis of variance carried out for 19 yield, yield attributing and drought tolerant traits revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all characters under rainfed as well as irrigated conditions. Variability study revealed high heritability accompanied with high to moderate genetic advance for drought tolerant traits like SLA, SCMR and proline. Traits related to mechanical harvesting viz., height of the first pod and plant height exhibited moderate variability, high heritability and high genetic advance both under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Seed yield, harvest index, 100 seed weight and days to 50 per cent flowering exhibited moderate to high genetic variability, high heritability coupled with high genetic gain under rainfed and irrigated conditions. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

<div>Variability Studies on Yield, Drought Tolerant and Mechanical Harvestable Traits in Genotypes of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)</div>

<div>Background: The present investigation was undertaken to examine the genetic variability and relationship between traits among the 73 germplasm lines of mungbean collection of diverse nature. Genetic variability and association studies play an important role in developing a new genotype. The mungbean productivity remains low in India because of low genetic base for yield improvement, absence of variability for yield traits, poor ideotype of mungbean plant, inadequate management of the crop, weed infestation and susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses. Genetic variability is most important factor of success of any crop improvement programme. 
 
Methods: An experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with two replication at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh in high productive black cotton soils during kharif 2016 on 73 mungbean genotypes.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study revealed that the mean sums of squares due to genotype were highly significant for all the morphological traits. High estimates of heritability and genetic advance were recorded for clusters per plant, no. of branches per plant, days to maturity, seed yield, days to 50% flowering; plant height and no. of pods per plant indicating the role of additive gene effects with low environmental influence for the determination of these traits and simple phenotypic selection may be effective. The results also indicated improvement through direct selection for these traits can increase directly the grain yield in mungbean. Genotype Pusa Baisakhi, HUM-16, IPM-02-03, IPM-02-19, PM-5, AKM-9904, COGG-912 and RMG-991 were found good donors for these traits in recombinant breeding programme for yield enhancement in mungbean.</div>

<div>Genetic Relationship and Assessment of Variability of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilzek] Genotypes Based on Morphological Traits</div>