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Maize inbred lines were evaluated by using line × tester method involving 11 lines and 3 testers for grain yield and its components through estimation of general combining ability (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) effects. Highly significant genotypic differences were observed indicated wide range of variability present among the genotypes. The crosses with high sca effect for grain yield were evolved from high × low general combiner parents which reveled additive × dominance type of gene action. The cross combinations 9MS4-1 × L22, 9MS4-1 × L486, 9MS4-2 × L431, 9MS4-11 × L486 and 9MS4- 15 × L431 with high positive sca effect having high mean values might be used for obtaining high yielding hybrids. The information on the nature of gene action with respective variety and characters might be used depending on the breeding objectives. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v39i4.22547 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 39(4): 675-683, December 2014

An experiment was conducted at the Seed Laboratory of Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Jamalpur during the period from May to November 2010 to study the effect of thickness of polythene bags on quality of soybean seed during storage. Seven levels of thickness of polythene bags viz. i) 0.02mm, ii) 0.03mm, iii) 0.04mm, iv) 0.05mm, v) 0.06mm, vi) 0.07mm and vii) 0.08mm were include as treatment in the trial. Seed moisture content, germination percentage, vigor and seedling dry matter weight were taken during May to November 2010 at two month intervals. Results showed that during the storage period the lowest seed moisture content and highest germination percentage, vigor index, seedling dry matter weight and field emergence were found for seed stored in 0.08mm thickness polythene bags. The germination of seed at two months after storage ranged between 76% to 95.3% and that was between 0% and 90.7% after six months of storage under ambient room condition. Soybean seed could be stored safely at ambient condition with more than 80% germination for six months by keeping them in polythene bags having thickness between 0.03mm to 0.08mm with 8% seed moisture content. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v39i4.22550 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 39(4): 709-716, December 2014

Combining ability was studied for kernel yield and yield components in a 8×8 diallel cross of waterlogged tolerant maize. Significant general and specific combining ability variances were observed for all the characters studied. Additive genetic variance was preponderant in plant height, ear height, ear length, ear diameter, and kernel weight and non-additive gene action was involved in days to silking, number of kernels per ear and kernel yield. The parental lines E-31 and E-79 were found to be the best general combiners for yield. The good combining parents for different traits could be used in hybridization to improve yield and other desirable traits as donor parents for the accumulation of favourable genes. The cross combinations, E 31× E 40, E 31× E 64, E 31× E 79, E 38× E 40, E 58× E 79, E 63× E 79, E 64 × E 79 showing significant and positive sca effects can be used for commercial hybrid variety development after verifying them at different locations. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v39i2.20430 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 39(2): 283-291, June 2014

A field experiment was conducted in two consecutive years to find out the efficacy of poultry refuse (PR), mustard oilcake (MOC), and Furadan 5G for the management of root-knot disease (Meloidogyne incognita) of tomato. Soil was treated with PR @ 3 and 5 t/ha, MOC @ 0.3 and 0.6 t/ha 3 weeks before transplanting and Furadan 5G @ 40 kg/ha on the day of transplanting of tomato seedlings. PR @ 3 t/ha and MOC @0.3 t/ha were applied alone and also mixed with Furadan 5G @ 20 kg/ha. The soils of the experimental plots were inoculated with chopped severely galled (M incognita) roots of tomato at the time of treatment application. In both the years, considerable reduction in rootknot disease and increase in plant growth and fruit yield were achieved with different treatments with two organic materials applied alone or mixed with Furadan 5G. The most effective treatment was PR @ 3 t/ha + Furadan 5G @ 20 kg/ha followed by PR alone @ 5 t/ha. Efficacy of PR @ 3 t/ha and MOC @ 0.6 1/ha were also appreciable. In first year and second year, gall index values were 6.50 and 6.27 under control, respectively. The severity was reduced to 2.27-4.00 in first year and 1.73-4.07 in second year due to application of the four treatments. On the other hand, fruit yield under control was 50.9 t/ha at first year and 47.6 t/ha in second year. The highly effective four treatments increased fruit yield to 71.1-82.5 t/ha in first year and 60.8-82.0 t/ha in second year. The fruit yield of tomato was directly and linearly correlated with gall indices in tomato gall. Based on findings of the study PR @ 3 t/ha + Furadan @20 kg/ha and PR alone @ 5 t/ha were noted as effective treatment to manage root-knot disease of tomato. Keywords: Poultry refuse; mustard oilcake; Furadan; Meloidogjyne incognita; tomato. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i3.9275 BJAR 2011; 36(3): 477-486