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Present paper deals with the morphomatric analysis, incidence and biology of leaf eating caterpillar, Diaphania indica, carried out on cucurbits in arid region. The incidence of leaf eating caterpillar was first reported on fruits of different cucurbits and highest fruit infestation was recorded in muskmelon followed by round melon and watermelon fruits at farm of ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner. Eggs are laid on leaves or young shoots or fruits. The female fly laid the eggs in the cavities made by the ovipositor, just beneath the skin of the fruit. The pooled mean duration of the different stages of D. indica viz., the female fecundity (163.35 number), egg period of 3.59 days, larval period of 9.10 days, pre-pupal period of 2.14 days, pupal period of 9.33 days and adult longevity of 10.08 days, respectively. The length of Ist instar larvae is 4.30 ± 0.135 mm and width is 0.53 ± 0.019 mm. The fifth instar larva is 18.10 ± 0.125 mm length and 3.28 ± 0.043 mm width. Pupa is 13.66 ± 0.088 mm length and 2.28 ± 0.043 mm width. Adult female body length was 11.19 ± 0.211 mm and width 24.54 ± 0.201 with wing expansion. The male body length is 11.00 ± 0.159 mm and width 22.85 ± 0.156 mm with wing expansion. The morphometric variations of different life stages of the D. indica have been recorded. Growers can adopt this study for the timely management of D. indica in arid condition.

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.

Genetic diversity was studied on fifty-four genotypes of cumin, Cuminum cyminum L. at “Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, Jodhpur” during rabi season 2017-18. The mean squares were found significantly different for all the characters under study, depicting the availability of variability among the study materials. The high magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) for seed yield, primary branches per plant and number of umbels per plant depicted the presence of vast amount of variation for the character along with high heritability (68-97%) combined with higher genetic advances as percentage of means for seed yield. The highest intra-cluster distance was recorded in cluster VI (11.8) along with cluster VII (11.33) and cluster VIII (8.29) depicting large genetic variability among the genotypes of these three clusters. The highest inter-cluster distance was reported among cluster III and VIII (51.97) followed by cluster III and VII (40.07) and cluster IV and cluster VIII (34.77), suggesting wide range of diversity between genotypes of the clusters. Amongst the characters, seed yield contributed the highest towards genetic divergence (47.80%) followed by number of umbel per plant (25.65%), branches per plant (8.60%) and 1000 seed weight (6.64%).

There has been an increase in human health concerns, and seaweeds are considered as a potential functional food which can decrease the risk of many diseases, as they contain various bioactive compounds. Seaweeds are of nutritional interest and a rich source of natural bioactive compounds including antioxidants, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and alkaloids that can be used as an alternative source of food material. Seaweeds contain a high amount of vitamins such as A, D, E, C, and B, and minerals including calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron. Seaweeds containing carrageenan, agar and other polysaccharides not only act as a source of fiber but also can act as prebiotics which may benefit the bacteria present in the large intestine. The lack of technologies to process seaweeds for human consumption at an industrial scale is a serious limitation on growth of the seaweed-based functional foods sector. Seaweeds are one of the most extensively used functional foods, with a long history in Asian countries. Now they are also being explored by many Western and European countries. Evidence from epidemiological research suggests that regular consumption of a marine algae-based diet may boost immunity against a number of diseases including COVID-19 novel virus by angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. © Copyright © 2021 Choudhary, Chauhan and Mishra.

An intraspecific hybridization programme among Cucumis species involving eight genetically diverse parents of C. melo L. varietal group viz., IC-0599709, Punjab Sunehri, Pusa Madhuras, Kashi Madhu (C. melo L.), AHK-119 (C. melo var. callosus), AHLM-2 (C. melo var. utilissimus), AHS-82 (C. melo var. momordica) and Arya-1 (C. melo var. chate) were undertaken. Among the dessertic F1 hybrids, IC-0599709 × Punjab Sunehri resulted best with respect to first fruit harvest (73.33 days), fruit weight (938.00 g), fruit diameter (11.90 cm), flesh thickness (3.07 cm), total soluble solids (9.73%) and flesh colour (salmon orange). F2 population of AHK-119 × Kashi Madhu produced maximum number of marketable fruits per plant (11.2) weighing 350.00 g in 86.1 days. It was also found to be tolerant to high temperature. The F2 population of AHK-119 × Kashi Madhu were found to be tolerant to high temperature. The existing variability among the parents, intra-specific crosses and segregating generations for fruit (size, shape, colour), yield and quality parameters could be exploited to develop new segregants with desirable traits.

In a previous study, we identified a halotolerant rhizobacterium belonging to the genus Klebsiella (MBE02) that protected peanut seeds from Aspergillus flavus infection. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the effect of MBE02 against A. flavus via untargeted metabolite profiling of peanut seeds treated with MBE02, A. flavus, or MBE02+A. flavus. Thirty-five metabolites were differentially accumulated across the three treatments (compared to the control), and the levels of pipecolic acid (Pip) were reduced upon A. flavus treatment only. We validated the function of Pip against A. flavus using multiple resistant and susceptible peanut cultivars. Pip accumulation was strongly associated with the resistant genotypes that also accumulated several mRNAs of the ALD1-like gene in the Pip biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, exogenous treatment of a susceptible peanut cultivar with Pip reduced A. flavus infection in the seeds. Our findings indicate that Pip is a key component of peanut resistance to A. flavus.

Nutraceuticals are an important ingredient of functional foods that provide health and medicinal benefits, and are recommended for daily food intake. Seaweeds are highly nutritional and considered a rich source of antioxidants, sugars, fatty acids, essential amino acids, flavonoids, phenolics, and other secondary metabolites. Green seaweeds are distributed worldwide and tropical, green algae including Caulerpa spp. could be potentially explored as a functional food. Seven abundant tropical green seaweeds (four Caulerpa species, two Ulva species, and one native Codium species) were harvested from the Saurashtra Coast (Arabian Sea, Gujarat, India) and their metabolite profiling, total flavonoid and phenolic content, and antioxidant, scavenging, reducing, and anti-proliferative activities were examined. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identified remarkable metabolites, including malvidin, kaempferol, cyanidin, quercetin, apigenin, lutein, and myricetin; ninety-seven metabolites were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Approximately forty distinct metabolites were quantified, whereas fifty-seven metabolites were detected in more than one seaweed. Fourteen unique metabolites were detected in C. scalpelliformis, which also contained notable amino acids. Caulerpa spp. (CRM: C. racemosa var. macrophysa, CRC: C. racemosa var. cornyphora, and CS: C. scalpelliformis) showed potential total antioxidant activity (>50%), and the highest potential scavenging activity (>60%) was found in CRM followed by CS and CRC extracts. CRM and CS extracts also showed maximal reducing activity (>78%). A low half maximal effective concentration (EC50) for different biochemical activities was determined for Caulerpa spp., especially CRM (total antioxidant: 150.8 ± 5.7, scavenging: 560 ± 2, and reducing: 86.4 ± 3.1 μg ml−1) compared to other select seaweeds. CRC, CRM, and CS showed significantly high total phenolic contents, 29.2 ± 2.4, 25.0 ± 3.2 and 23.8 ± 3.3 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g−1 extract, respectively. Similarly, a high total flavonoid content was detected in CS (769 ± 33 mg quercetin-equivalent g−1 extract) followed by CRC (562 ± 44), and CRM (523 ± 60). All activities (total antioxidant, scavenging, and reducing) were positively correlated with each other and also with total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Principal component analysis confirmed that CRC is a rich source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, whereas CS and CRO (C. racemosa var. occidentalis) possessed higher total antioxidant, scavenging, and anti-proliferative activities compared to the other selected seaweeds. The study revealed that Caulerpa spp. are a promising functional food ingredient and could be explored as daily dietary supplements.

The cucurbit plants belong to family Cucurbitaceae comprises of about 117 genera and 825 species in warmer parts, in which mateera,muskmelon, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, snapmelon, kachri, round melon, sponge gourd, etc. are found in arid regional of Rajasthan. The main pestsof cucurbit crops are fruity fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, leaf eating caterpillar, Diaphania indica; leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii; white flies, Bemisiatabaci; Hadda beetle, Epilachna viginctioctopunctata; aphids, Aphis gossypii; ash weevil, Myllocerus subfasciatus; flower beetles Mylabrismacilenta; Anthicus crinitus and Anthrenus subclaviger and beet worm, Spodoptera exigua. The cucurbitaceous vegetables are loss the yieldranged from 30-100% due to pest attack and its depending upon cucurbit species and the season in different parts of arid region.&nbsp

Host plant resistance is an important component of integrated pest management of the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett). Various phenotypic traits including length of ovary pubescence, rind hardness, rind thickness, fruit length, fibre content, and fruit diameter and alleochemical traits including flavonoid content, ascorbic acid, free amino acid, tannins content and phenols content of fruit were studied on fifteen varieties/genotypes of ridge gourd, Luffa acutangula in relation to resistance against B. cucurbitae under field conditions in the hot arid region of India. Significant differences were found in tested varieties/genotypes for fruit infestation and larval density per fruit. The varieties/genotypes AHRG-57 (15.92%), AHRG-29 (17.67%) and Pusa Nasdar (18.27%) were found resistant; AHRG-41 (21.77%), AHRG-35 (25.38%), Arka Sujata (30.08%), AHRG-36 (34.8%), S. Manjari (39.67%) and S. Uphar (42.3%) were moderately resistant; AHRG-30 (55.67%), AHRG-42 (57.63%) and AHRG-33 (57.67%) were susceptible; AHRG-47 (77.75%) and AHRG-31 (79.72) were found the highly susceptible varieties/genotypes to melon fruit fly infestation. A significant positive correlation ( r = 0.96) was also observed between percent fruit infestation and larval density per fruit. The percent fruit infestation and larval density had significant positive correlation with fruit length and diameter and negative correlation with length of ovary pubescence, rind hardness and rind thickness. Based on Kaiser Normalization method, two principal components (PCs) were extracted explaining cumulative variation of 90% in melon fruit fly infestation and length of ovary pubescence, rind thickness, flavonoid content, ascorbic acid, free amino acid, tannins content, and phenols content were the reliable variables for characterization of resistance. Ridge gourd varieties/genotypes AHRG-57, Pusa Nasdar and AHRG-29 were classified as resistant to B. cucurbitae and these could be used in future breeding program as resistant sources.

Host plant resistance is an important component of integrated pest management of the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae). We studied various antixenotic and allelochemical traits in the fruit for 15 varieties/genotypes of watermelon Citrellus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsumara & Nakai (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae) in relation to resistance against B. cucurbitae under field conditions in a hot arid region of India. Results showed significant differences in tested varieties/genotypes in levels of fruit infestation and larval density per fruit. The varieties/genotypes ‘Asahi Yamato’ (12.73%), ‘AHW/BR-16’ (15.10%), and ‘Thar Manak’ (18.27%) were found to be resistant; ‘Durgapura Lal’ (23.03%), ‘Sugar Baby’ (26.67%), ‘AHW/BR-12’ (29.73%), ‘Arka Manik’ (34.15%), ‘Charleston Gray’ (38.70%), ‘AHW-65’ (35.80%), and ‘AHW-19’ (48.97%) were found to be moderately resistant; and ‘IC 582909’ (53.18%), ‘AHW/BR-60’ (55.52%), ‘BSM-1’ (59.10%), ‘AHW/BR-137’ (60.58%), and ‘AHW/BR-9’ (67.37%) were found to be susceptible to fruit fly infestation. Significant positive correlation (r = 0.99; P < 0.01) was observed between percentage fruit infestation and larval density per fruit. Percentage fruit infestation and larval density per fruit were significantly and positively correlated with fruit length (r = 0.57 and 0.55, respectively) and with days to first fruit harvest (r = 0.75 and 0.76, respectively), but negatively correlated with length of ovary pubescence (r = −0.91 and −0.91, respectively), rind hardness (r = −0.86 and −0.87, respectively), and rind thickness (r = −0.77 and −0.75, respectively). Maximum variation in fruit infestation and larval density were explained by length of ovary pubescence (82.5 and 83.6%, respectively) followed by fruit length (4.3 and 3.0%, respectively) and rind thickness (3.2 and 2.0%, respectively). Free amino acid content was lowest in the resistant ‘Asahi Yamato’ and highest in the susceptible ‘BSM-1’, whereas the contents of phenols, tannins, total alkaloids, and flavonoids were highest in resistant and lowest in susceptible varieties/genotypes. Flavonoid and total alkaloid contents explained 88.4 and 92.0%, respectively, of the total variation in fruit fly infestation and in larval density per fruit.

Out of 103 microsatellite markers used for studying the genetic diversity among local landraces of Luffa species, 56 were found polymorphic, including 38 gSSR and 18 eSSR, respectively. A total of 197 amplification products were obtained. The mean number of alleles per locus was 3.52. The PIC ranged from 0.037 to 0.986, while size of amplified product ranged from 105 to 500 bp. Cucumber-derived SSRs were amplified within L. acutangula (68%), L. aegyptiaca (61.16%), and L. hermaphrodita (60.2%), with an average of 63.12% cross-transferability. The Jaccard's coefficient ranged from 0.66 to 0.97, with an average of 0.81. High genetic variability was observed for node of 1st hermaphrodite flower (6.4-17), days to 1st hermaphrodite flower (38-52.1), days to 1st fruit harvest (43-65), number of fruit per cluster (1-5.9), fruit length (3.9-25 cm), fruit weight (18.4-175 g), number of fruit per plant (20-147.5), and yield per plant (2.2-4.7 kg). Two sub-populations were identified including 21 genotypes (sub-population I) and 06 genotypes (sub-population II), these two sub-populations showed 0.608-0.395% of the ancestral relationship to each other. This study provides information for future exploration, collection, and utilization of Luffa genotypes, as well as the polymorphic markers identified could be available for the study of landmarks in linkages, genomic structures, evolutionary ecology, and marker-assisted selection (MAS) in Luffa species.

Out of 103 microsatellite markers used for studying the genetic diversity among local landraces of Luffa species, 56 were found polymorphic, including 38 gSSR and 18 eSSR, respectively. A total of 197 amplification products were obtained. The mean number of alleles per locus was 3.52. The PIC ranged from 0.037 to 0.986, while size of amplified product ranged from 105 to 500 bp. Cucumber-derived SSRs were amplified within L. acutangula (68%), L. aegyptiaca (61.16%), and L. hermaphrodita (60.2%), with an average of 63.12% cross-transferability. The Jaccard’s coefficient ranged from 0.66 to 0.97, with an average of 0.81. High genetic variability was observed for node of 1st hermaphrodite flower (6.4–17), days to 1st hermaphrodite flower (38–52.1), days to 1st fruit harvest (43–65), number of fruit per cluster (1–5.9), fruit length (3.9–25 cm), fruit weight (18.4–175 g), number of fruit per plant (20–147.5), and yield per plant (2.2–4.7 kg). Two sub-populations were identified including 21 genotypes (sub-population I) and 06 genotypes (sub-population II), these two sub-populations showed 0.608–0.395% of the ancestral relationship to each other. This study provides information for future exploration, collection, and utilization of Luffa genotypes, as well as the polymorphic markers identified could be available for the study of landmarks in linkages, genomic structures, evolutionary ecology, and marker-assisted selection (MAS) in Luffa species.

Cucurbits are sensitive to environmental extremes, and thus high temperature and limited soil moisture are major causes of low yield in hot arid region and will be further magnified by climate change. Some abiotic stresses directly reduce growth, while others affect development in a way that reduces or eliminates the crop's value. The response of plants to environmental stresses depends on developmental stages and length and severity of the stress. Plants may respond similarly to avoid one or more stresses through morphological or biochemical mechanisms. Plant breeders need to translate these findings into stress-tolerant varieties by using all tools available that include germplasm screening, marker-assisted selection and genetic transformation besides conventional breeding methods. Therefore, breeding is one of the most efficient approaches for managing abiotic stresses. The genetically complex responses to abiotic stresses are multigenic and thus more difficult to control and engineer. Several abiotic stress tolerant varieties have been developed utilizing conventional breeding approaches. However, rapid progress is required to reduce the gap between potential yield and actual yield in abiotic stress prone environments. Thus, there is an urgent need of breeding climate-smart varieties of cucurbits tolerance to abiotic stresses which have great potential for meeting increased demand. Keeping in view, an attempt has been made to compile the scattered information on concepts, mechanisms and breeding approaches of abiotic stress tolerance in cucurbits.

So many men's, so many opinions are there for managing a difficult airway in a child with temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA). It is an exceptionally challenging even in hands of experienced anesthesiologist. Success lies in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. At times newer equipments and techniques turn out to be failure with uncooperative child. Here we present a case report of TMJA where successful intubation was possible in child with limited mouth opening

Host plant resistance is an important component for management of the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), owing to difficulties associated with its chemical and biological control. Various biochemical traits including total sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, tannins, phenols, alkaloids, flavinoid and pH contents of fruit were studied on 11varieties/ genotypes of muskmelon, Cucumis melo L., in relation to resistance against B. cucurbitae under field conditions. Significant differences were found in tested varieties/ genotypes for fruit infestation and larval density per fruit. AHMM/BR-1, RM-50 and AHMM/BR-8 were the most resistant; MHY-5, Durgapura Madhu and Pusa Sarabati were moderately resistant; AHMM/BR-13, Pusa Madhuras and Arka Jeet were susceptible; whereas Arka Rajhans and GMM-3 were the highly susceptible varieties/ genotypes to fruit fly in both seasons, 2011 and 2012. The larval density per fruit increased with an increase in percent fruit infestation and there was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.97) between percent fruit infestation and larval density per fruit. Total sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar and pH were lowest in resistant and highest in susceptible varieties/ genotypes, whereas tannins, phenols, alkaloids and flavinoid contents were highest in resistant and lowest in susceptible varieties/ genotypes. Total alkaloid and pH contents explained 97.96% of the total variation in fruit fly infestation and 92.83% of the total variation in larval density per fruit due to alkaloids and total sugar contents.

Interspecific hybridization is an important tool to elucidate intergenomic relationships, transfer characters across species, create genetic variability, and to develop synthetic amphidiploids. It has been widely used for improving Brassica. The present study was conducted to find out the crossability between Brassica juncea (AABB, 2n=36) and B. napus (AACC, 2n=38), analyze chromosome association in the F1 hybrids, and to estimate variability in F2 progenies of the cross. The crossability between B. juncea and B. napus was higher when B. juncea was used as the female parent. The hybrids, in general, were vigorous and intermediate in morphological attributes. The meiotic studies of F1 plants of cross B. juncea × B. napus (AABC, 2n=37) exhibited 10 bivalents in the majority of the pollen mother cells (PMCs) analyzed. A maximum of 14 bivalents in AABC hybrids and the presence of multivalent associations were attributed to the autoand allosyndetic nature of pairing within and between the B and C genomes. In the F2 generation, a high percentage of plants resembling B. juncea type and transgressive segregation for many characters were found.

Interspecific hybridization is an important tool to elucidate intergenomic relationships, transfer characters across species and develop synthetic amphidiploids, and it has been widely applied for improving brassicas. The objective of the present study was to create genetic variability in Brassica through interspecific hybridization. Crosses between Brassica juncea (AABB, 2n = 36), and Brassica rapa (AA, 2n = 20) vars toria, yellow sarson, and brown sarson were attempted, and the hybrid derivatives were advanced to the F 4 generation. Hybrids were obtained from the crosses B. juncea x toria and B. juncea x yellow sarson. The F 1 plants were vigorous and intermediate to the parents in many morphological traits. The meiotic study of AAB hybrids showed 10 II + 8 I in the majority (71.8%) of cells analysed. A maximum of 12 and a minimum of seven bivalents were also observed in a few cells. The occurrence of multivalent associations (trivalents to pentavalents) at diakinesis/metaphase I and a bridge-fragment configuration at anaphase I were attributed to homoeology between A and B genomes. A high percentage of plants resembling B. juncea was observed in the F 2 generation. Transgressive segregation in both directions was found for plant height, primary branches, main raceme length, siliquae on main raceme, siliqua intensity, seeds per siliqua and seed yield. There were significant differences for the 14 characters in the F 4 derivatives. Moderate to high estimates of phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, broad-sense heritability, and expected genetic advance were found for seed yield, 1000-seed weight, siliquae per plant, seeds per siliqua and days to flowering. Intergenomic recombination, reflected as wide variation in the hybrid progenies, permitted the selection of some useful derivatives.

The crossability between Brassica tournefortii (TT, 2n = 20) and Brassica rapa (AA, 2n = 20) and the cytomorphology of their F1 hybrids were studied. Hybrids between these two species were obtained only when B. tournefortii was involved as a female parent. The hybrid plants were intermediate for most of the morphological attributes and were found to be free from white rust under field conditions. The F1 plants showed poor pollen fertility, although occasional seed set was achieved from open pollination. Self-pollination or backcrosses did not yield any seeds in these plants. The occurrence of chromosome association ranging from bivalents (0–7), trivalents (0–2) to a rare quadrivalent (0–1) in the dihaploid hybrids indicates pairing between the T and A genomes. The homoeologous pairing coupled with seed set in the F1 plants offer an opportunity for interspecific gene transfers from B. tournefortii to B. rapa and vice-versa through interspecific hybridization.

Amphidiploid Raphanofortii was synthesized by colchicinization of the F1 hybrid Brassica tournefortii (TT, 2n = 20)×Raphanus caudatus (RR, 2n = 18). The crossability between these two species, and the cytomorphology of the F1 plants and the amphidiploids were investigated. Intergeneric hybrids between the species were obtained only when B. tournefortii was involved as female parent. The hybrid plants were intermediate for most of the morphological attributes and showed very low pollen fertility compared to the parents. Although a majority of the pollen mother cells of the dihaploid hybrid (TR, 2n = 19) harboured univalents, a maximum of six bivalents were also observed. Of the 37 colchicine-treated F1 plants analyzed cytologically, 21 were found to be true amphidiploids (2n = 38), whereas seven were mixoploids. Meiosis in the amphidiploids was characterized by the occurrence of 19 bivalents, though multivalents and univalents were also observed in a few cells. Most of the amphidiploid plants exhibited a fairly high pollen and seed fertility, which was further enhanced with the advancement of generations. Out of 69 plants investigated in the A2 generation, 64 were euploids while the remaining five were aneuploids (2n = 36, 37, 39, 40 and 42). The newly synthesized Raphanofortii has great potential as a new commercial crop, as well as a bridge species for the transfer of economically important attributes of both the species to other Brassicas.

The crossability between Brassica carinata (BBCC, 2n=34) and Brassica rapa (AA, 2n=20), and the cytomorphology of their F1 hybrids were studied. Hybrids between these two species were only obtained when B. carinata was used as the female parent. The hybrid plants exhibited intermediate leaf and flower morphology, and were found to be free from white rust and Alternaria blight diseases. One of the four F1 plants was completely male sterile, while the remaining plants had 4.8, 8.6, and 10.9% stainable pollen, respectively. No seed was produced on hybrid plants under self pollination or in backcrosses; but seed was obtained from open pollination. The occurrence of the maximum of 11 bivalents as well as up to 44.8%) of cells with multivalent associations in the form of trivalents (0-2) and a quadrivalent (0-1) in the trigenomic triploid hybrid (ABC, 2n = 27) revealed intergenomic homoeology among the A, B and C genomes. Meiotic analysis of F1 hybrids indicated that traits of economic importance, such as disease resistance, could be transferred from B. carinata to B. rapa through interspecific crosses.

The inheritance of siliqua orientation and seed coat colour in Brassica tournefortii was investigated using four genotypes varying in these two characters. The F 1 , F 2 and backcross generations of two crosses were used for studying the segregation pattern of the traits. The plants were classified for seed colour as having brown or yellow seeds and for siliqua orientation as having upright, semi-spread or spread siliqua. Seed colour was found to be under monogenic control with brown being dominant over yellow. Siliqua orientation was under digenic polymeric gene action: upright siliqua was produced by the presence of two dominant genes and spread siliqua by two recessive genes. The absence of even a single dominant gene resulted in a third type of siliqua orientation, semi-spread siliqua.

The inheritance of siliqua locule number and seed coat colour in Brassica juncea was investigated, using three lines each of tetralocular brown seeded and bilocular yellow seeded. Three crosses of tetralocular brown seeded x bilocular yellow seeded lines were attempted and their F 1 , F 2 and backcross generations were examined for segregation of these two traits. Brown seed colour and bilocular siliqua characters were found to be dominant over yellow seed and tetralocular siliqua, respectively. Chi-square tests indicated that each trait is controlled by different sets of duplicate pairs of genes. Bilocular siliquae or brown seeds can result from the presence of either of two dominant alleles, whereas tetralocular siliquae or yellow seeds are produced when alleles at both loci are recessive. A joint segregation analysis of F 2 data indicated that the genes governing siliqua locule number and seed colour were inherited independently.

Host plant resistance is an important component for management of the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) owing to difficulties associated with its chemical and biological control. A total of 27 watermelon varieties/genotypes were evaluated for their susceptiblity to the fruit fly in hot arid region of Rajasthan. The results showed that the varieties/genotypes viz. percentage of fruit infestation and larval population per fruit varied significantly. Pooled data showed that the varieties/genotypes viz., AHW/BR-60, BSM-1, IC 582909, AHW/BR-9, AHW/BR-137, Durgapura Kesar, AHW/BR-10, AHW/BR-18, AHW/BR-8, AHW/BR-21, AHW/BR-20 and YF-4 can be categorized as susceptible with considerable fruit infestation (55.72%, 59.28%, 53.05%, 67.20%, 60.43%, 61.83%, 63.87%, 63.62%, 59.45%, 59.62%, 62.52% and 55.68%, respectively) and with larval population per fruit viz. 17.12, 17.85, 16.45, 19.23, 17.90, 18.48, 18.38, 18.32, 18.40, 17.57, 17.93 and 17.70, respectively. The varieties/genotypes Asahi Yamato, AHW/BR-16 and Thar Manak had 12–18% fruit infestation (12.75%, 15.05% and 18.18%, respectively) with 1–1 lawal per fruit (10.13, 10.82 and 11.08, respectively) and declared which can be considered resistant. Lower values of host plant susceptibility indices based on fruit infestation (HPSI) were recorded on resistance varieties/genotypes, viz., Asahi Yamato, AHW/BR-16 and Thar Manak (28.85%, 34.05% and 41.14%, respectively). These could be used as a source of resistance for developing watermelon varieties/genotypes resistant to fruit fly.

Seventeen bottle gourd genotypes such as Pusa Naveen, Pusa Samridhi, Udaipur Local, Pusa Santushti, Pusa Sandesh, PSPL, Chomu Lo-cal, 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 Alternaria blight during rainy season of 2011 and 2012 under field conditions. Among them, 06 varieties such as Pusa Naveen, Pusa Samridhi, Pusa Sandesh, Pusa Santushti, Arka Bahar and PSPL showed moderately resistant having 4.87–8.62% disease severity and 10 genotypes were categorized as moderately susceptible (13.0 to 24.75%) while one germplasm ‘Chomu Local ’proved suscepti-ble against this disease.