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Twenty eight mutant lines of sesame were evaluated in randomized block design at Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, during kharif, 2018. ANOVA stated the existence of significant difference for all the characters studied. The percentage contribution towards genetic divergence was found highest for test weight followed by number of capsules/plant and seed yield/plant. Character association study indicated that simultaneous selection for the traits like harvest index, oil content, capsule length and number of capsules and direct selection for protein content, capsules/plant, length of capsule, days to maturity and harvest index will be advantageous for aiding yield improvement. Out of ten independent characters studied in path coefficient three traits, viz. number of capsules/plant, capsule length and harvest index expressed maximum directas well as indirect contributions through other characters on seed yield. Hence, these characters may be considered as important quantitative traits in sesame improvement programme and direct selection for these traits will be useful.

The present study was carried out for morphological characterization of twelve reference varieties of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) collected from ICAR institutes and SAUs to validate DUS testing guidelines using plant descriptors adopted from the DUS guidelines of PPV and FRA. Among 34 morphological characters studied, 19 were visually assessed and 15 were measured. The fruit shape in longitudinal section was expressed as ovate (MHY 5), elongated globe (Arka Rajhans), oblate (GMM 3, Kashi Madhu) and obovate (Durgapura Madhu). The rind colour of fruit have been grouped as yellow (Kashi Madhu), yellow green (Durgapura Madhu) and orange (Arka Jeet). The sutures on fruit surface were found to be absent in Arka Jeet, MHY 3 and present in Hara Madhu, Kashi Madhu varieties. With respect to netting on fruit surface the varieties have been grouped as absent of netting (Arka Jeet, MHY 5) and moderate netting (RM 50, Punjab Sunehri). The flesh colour was expressed as creamish white (Arka Jeet), grey orange (GMM 3), yellowish green (Durgapura Madhu), green (Hara Madhu) and orange (Kashi Madhu). Under results, no intra-varietal variation was observed for any of the visual characteristics examined. Further, the expression of characters in different varieties remained same for the three consecutive years confirming the uniformity and stability of the varieties for visual characteristics. The varieties were grouped into different categories for each character based on 34 descriptors which may be used as reference varieties. Identified 6 traits as grouping traits, viz. sex expression (at full flowering), fruit shape in longitudinal section, rind colour of fruit, sutures on rind, surface netting of fruit and fruit flesh colour. The morphological characterization of extant varieties was completed to establish distinctness of the candidate variety from all other varieties to utilize these varieties as reference material for protection of other varieties under PPV&FR Act.

Cultivation of resistant or tolerant cultivars is one of the best options to minimize the losses due to diseases. Seventeen bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] varieties/genotypes (Pusa Naveen, Pusa Samridhi, Udaipur Local, Pusa Santushti, Pusa Sandesh, PSPL, Chomu Local, Azad Harit, Panchmahal Local, Arka Bahar, Thar Samridhi, PN 22, DBG 5, DBG 6, Jodhpur Local, IC 567538 and Sriganganagar Local) were evaluated for resistance against Cercospora leaf spot during the rainy season of 2011 and 2012 under hot arid field conditions of Rajasthan. Among them, none was found immune or resistant, four varieties (Pusa Naveen, Pusa Santushti, Pusa Samridhi and Pusa Sandesh) were found to be moderately resistant and four (PSPL, Arka Bahar, PN22 and DBG6) were moderately susceptible and the remaining nine were susceptible.

Landraces of ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (Roxb.) L.] are spread over a wide range of environments in India and their fruits are consumed as vegetable. The dry fruits of six commonly grown genotypes were collected from different parts of Rajasthan. The collected materials were evaluated during summer season of 2011 and 2012 under hot arid conditions of western Rajasthan for growth traits, flowering, yield, yield components and quality traits. The evaluated genotypes showed significant variation for most of these traits, except pH of flesh. Average number of fruits per plant was the highest in AHRG 29 (21.75) and the lowest in AHRG 27 (17.30), which had the highest fruit length (27.26cm), fruit diameter (5.13cm), ovary length (8.06 cm) and fibre content (1.96 g/100g edible portion). The highest fruit hardness was also recorded in AHRG 27 (4.91 kg/cm2), whereas the lowest in AHRG 29 (3.54 kg/cm2). Significant correlation coefficients among growth, flowering, yield, yield traits and quality traits were found. The marketable yield/plant had positive and highly significant correlation with fruit weight (0.834) and number of marketable fruit/plant (0.624) at phenotypic level. The results of this study could be used in breeding programs for improving local landraces of ridge gourd grown in Rajasthan, India.

The present study was carried out in a set of germplasm accessions for yield related traits in Chia. Results of the correlation coefficient revealed a highly significant and positive effect of the number of primary branches, harvest index and oil content on seed yield per plant on both genotypic and phenotypic levels, while plant height had a positive significant correlation with seed yield only at the genotypic level. Through analysis of path coefficients, the positive and significant direct effect of harvest index on genotypic as well as phenotypic levels was inferred, whilst days to 50% flowering and plant height illustrated positive direct effects on seed yield per plant only at the genotypic level. Moderate direct and positive effects of days to maturity at the genotypic level along with the number of primary branches at the phenotypic level were observed on seed yield per plant. The study revealed that harvesting index, days to 50% flowering and fruiting branches could be used as selection criteria traits, which will be very useful in future breeding programmes to enhance yield in Chia.

Crop yield varies considerably within agroecology depending on the genetic potential of crop cultivars and various edaphic and climatic variables. Understanding site-specific changes in crop yield and genotype × environment interaction are crucial and needs exceptional consideration in strategic breeding programs. Further, genotypic response to diverse agro-ecologies offers identification of strategic locations for evaluating traits of interest to strengthen and accelerate the national variety release program. In this study, multi-location field trial data have been used to investigate the impact of environmental conditions on crop phenological dynamics and their influence on the yield of mungbean in different agroecological regions of the Indian subcontinent. The present attempt is also intended to identify the strategic location(s) favoring higher yield and distinctiveness within mungbean genotypes. In the field trial, a total of 34 different mungbean genotypes were grown in 39 locations covering the north hill zone (n = 4), northeastern plain zone (n = 6), northwestern plain zone (n = 7), central zone (n = 11) and south zone (n = 11). The results revealed that the effect of the environment was prominent on both the phenological dynamics and productivity of the mungbean. Noticeable variations (expressed as coefficient of variation) were observed for the parameters of days to 50% flowering (13%), days to maturity (12%), reproductive period (21%), grain yield (33%), and 1000-grain weight (14%) across the environments. The genotype, environment, and genotype × environment accounted for 3.0, 54.2, and 29.7% of the total variation in mungbean yield, respectively (p < 0.001), suggesting an oversized significance of site-specific responses of the genotypes. Results demonstrated that a lower ambient temperature extended both flowering time and the crop period. Linear mixed model results revealed that the changes in phenological events (days to 50 % flowering, days to maturity, and reproductive period) with response to contrasting environments had no direct influence on crop yields (p > 0.05) for all the genotypes except PM 14-11. Results revealed that the south zone environment initiated early flowering and an extended reproductive period, thus sustaining yield with good seed size. While in low rainfall areas viz., Sriganganagar, New Delhi, Durgapura, and Sagar, the yield was comparatively low irrespective of genotypes. Correlation results and PCA indicated that rainfall during the crop season and relative humidity significantly and positively influenced grain yield. Hence, the present study suggests that the yield potential of mungbean is independent of crop phenological dynamics; rather, climatic variables like rainfall and relative humidity have considerable influence on yield. Further, HA-GGE biplot analysis identified Sagar, New Delhi, Sriganganagar, Durgapura, Warangal, Srinagar, Kanpur, and Mohanpur as the ideal testing environments, which demonstrated high efficiency in the selection of new genotypes with wider adaptability.