Detection of True Hybrids in Pearl Millet Cross Combinations by Employing SSR Molecular Markers

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br.), a crucial staple food and significant cereal crop, is gaining prominence due to its versatile applications as feed, food, and fodder. Heterosis of this crop has been extensively harnessed to increase productivity. Hybrid variants exhibit superior grain and stover yields compared to open-pollinated varieties.Top of Form The primary aim of this investigation was to evaluate and confirm authentic hybrids within three resultant F1 progenies. The assessment of parents and F1 hybrids was carried out during the Kharif 2021for the purpose of accurate discrimination and rapid verification of true hybrids by employing 20 SSR molecular markers. The experimental materials consisted of three distinct cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines including ICMA 843-22, ICMA 04999, and ICMA 02333, used as female parents along with three fertility restorers, viz., ICMR 01004, ICMR 20233, and ICMR 20342, were utilized as male parents. The analysis of SSR profiles was based on distinctive banding patterns, resulting in unique profiles for the hybrids. The amplified fragment sizes ranged between 90 to 300 base pairs (bp), effectively enabling the differentiation of authentic hybrids. Within the specific crosses, the percentage of polymorphism was determined 75% for the cross ICMA 843-22 × ICMR 01004, 80% for the cross combination ICMA 04999 × ICMR 20233, and 75% for the cross ICMA 02333 × ICMR 20342. The true hybrids were calculated using hybrid purity percentage formula using heterozygous banding patten among total plants evaluated. Among a total of 100 F1 plants, 85, 86, and 88 plants were accurately identified as true hybrids in the respective crosses i.e., ICMA 843-22 × ICMR 01004, ICMA 04999 × ICMR 20233, and ICMA 02333 × ICMR 20342. The identified markers hold significant potential for applications such as hybridity test, genetic purity assessments, diverse germplasm identification, and DNA fingerprinting endeavors in future.

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity through D2 Statistic in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present investigation was conducted at the Agriculture Research Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Rajmata Vijyaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. The objective of the investigation was to assess the genetic diversity among 71 different chickpea genotypes in relation to their yield and its attributing traits. The experimental design employed was a complete randomized block design with two replications. A comprehensive set of observations was made on twelve distinct yield accrediting traits from five randomly selected plants within each genotype. Based on D2 Statistics analysis, the 71 chickpea genotypes were classified into 26 distinct clusters. Conspicuously, the cluster with the highest numbers of genotypes was designated as cluster 1. A remarkable finding emerged from the analysis of intra-cluster distances, with cluster 16 displaying the greatest distance within its constituents. The evaluation of inter-cluster distances revealed significant dissimilarity between clusters 22 and 26, suggesting presence of considerable genetic variation between these clusters. Conversely, the inter-cluster distance was minimal between clusters 2 and 4, indicating a closer genetic relationship between genotypes ICCV 201109 and SAGL- 162387. In terms of the genetic diversity analysis, it became evident that the yield related traits exerting the most substantial influence on the overall genetic divergence among the 71 chickpea genotypes were biological yield per plant, 100-seed weight, and the numbers of pods per plant. In contrast, the numbers of effective pods per plant contributed minimally to the overall genetic divergence. Based on the findings from both inter-cluster distances and individual performance assessments (per se performance), two specific genotypes viz., ICCV 201207 and SAGL 22-121, were short out as promising for inclusion in a hybridization programme. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of chickpea genetic variability and lay the groundwork for further breeding programmes aimed to enhance chickpea crop productivity.

Genetic Divergence for Grain Yield and Its Components in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Experimental Investigation

The present investigation Comprises 34 advanced breeding lines including checks of bread wheat and experiment was conducted in a complete randomized block design with three replications at the research farm department of genetics and plant breeding, RVSKVV, B.M. College of Agriculture, Khandwa during Rabi season (November 2021 to April 2022) for estimation of the multivariate analysis of divergence. The advanced breeding lines were grouped into seven clusters. Cluster III contained the highest number of advanced breeding lines(12) and clusters V, VI, and VII contained the lowest (1 each). The inter-cluster distance in most cases was larger than the intra cluster distance which indicated that wider diversity is present among the advanced breeding lines of distant grouped. The highest intra cluster distance was observed in cluster IV revealed maximum genetic divergence among its constituents. The highest inter-cluster distance was found between cluster VI and VII and the lowest was between cluster V and VI. Highest cluster mean exhibited in cluster VII for most of the agro-morphological traits i.e. number of tillers/plant, spike length, spike weight, number of grain/spike followed by cluster II for grain filling period, days to maturity and plant height. On the basis of genetic diversity analysis, maximum percent contribution towards genetic divergence in 34 advanced breeding lines were found in grain filling period, days to maturity, number of grain/spike, days to 50% flowering, biological yield per plant and harvest index. Such differences in the genetic component of traits studied in the manuscript can be applied as a source of variation in other breeding programmes and crossing nurseries for wheat improvement.

Stability and Molecular Characterization of Heat Tolerant Genotypes of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Twenty eight diverse genotypes sown in three different dates were screened using thirty three SSR primers. Twelve morphological characters recorded. The current study was conducted at all India Coordinated Research Project on Chickpea at R.A.K., College of Agriculture, Sehore (M.P.) during Rabi 2020-21, and 2021-22. The molecular work was carried out at Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (M.P.). The component G×E interaction were found significant for flower initiation, days to 50% flowering, days to pod initiation, plant height, days to maturity, number of pods per plant, number of empty pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index, 100 seed weight and seed yield per plant. The highest gene diversity was found in TA-135 (0.7474) followed by GAA-44 (0.7219), GAA-40 (0.7015), STMS-2 (0.6939), TA-71 (0.6709), NCPGR-1 (0.6403) and TA-18 (0.3648). Based on a dendrogram all the 28 genotypes were grouped into three major clusters, in which cluster I contained 2 genotypes, cluster II contained 5 genotypes and cluster III encompassed remaining 21 genotypes. Genotypes RVG 204, JG-14, and RVSSG-61 were found stable for favourable and unfavourable sowing conditions, while ICC-4958, JG-11, JG-12, RVG-203, RVG-204, RVSSG-52, JG-74, RVSSG-71 showed consistent performance during unfavourable sowing conditions for seed yield per plant. The important traits and marker based diversity and stability has been discussed in this research paper.