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The low grain iron and zinc densities are well documented problems in food crops, affecting crop nutritional quality especially in cereals. Sorghum is a major source of energy and micronutrients for majority of population in Africa and central India. Understanding genetic variation, genotype × environment interaction and association between these traits is critical for development of improved cultivars with high iron and zinc. A total of 336 sorghum RILs (Recombinant Inbred Lines) were evaluated for grain iron and zinc concentration along with other agronomic traits for 2 years at three locations. The results showed that large variability exists in RIL population for both micronutrients (Iron = 10.8 to 76.4 mg kg−1 and Zinc = 10.2 to 58.7 mg kg−1, across environments) and agronomic traits. Genotype × environment interaction for both micronutrients (iron and zinc) was highly significant. GGE biplots comparison for grain iron and zinc showed greater variation across environments. The results also showed that G × E was substantial for grain iron and zinc, hence wider testing needed for taking care of G × E interaction to breed micronutrient rich sorghum lines. Iron and zinc concentration showed high significant positive correlation (across environment = 0.79; p < 0.01) indicating possibility of simultaneous effective selection for both the traits. The RIL population showed good variability and high heritabilities (>0.60, in individual environments) for Fe and Zn and other traits studied indicating its suitability to map QTL for iron and zinc.

Green gram (Vigna radiata L.) Wilczek, chiefly grown as a post rainy season crop, faces water stress situation. A complex response, in terms of biochemical and molecular level is shown by plants, when exposed to drought, and depending on that, plants show differential adaptation and tolerance mechanisms. In the studied biochemical parameters, proline, catalase and peroxidase showed increased activity due to water stress and negatively correlated with seed yield and correlation was significant for catalase and peroxidase, while the total chlorophyll content decreased due to water stress and it was positively and significantly correlated with the seed yield. All the biochemical parameters recorded higher values in genotype WGG 37, whereas, lowest total chlorophyll and leaf proline were recorded in MGG 348 and lowest catalase and peroxidase activity in MGG 347. Highest seed yield was recorded by the genotype WGG 37 (1058.71 kg ha-1), followed by WGG 42 (1052.22 kg ha-1), while the lowest seed yield was recorded in MGG 348 (951.42 kg ha-1). Thus indicating the role of the biochemical parameters and total chlorophyll content in stress mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphological variation and genetic diversity in 15 root and shoot characters was studied in 27 castor accessions sown in an elevated temporary root study structure. Variation in characters accounted to 3.05 to 50.29%. Characters were subjected to Shannon Weaver diversity index (H') to know the genetic diversity. Eleven traits recorded high H' indicating suitability in breeding programmes. Their regression coefficients indicated positive change for six traits in dependent variable seed yield. Phenotypic correlation studies revealed that seed yield was significantly correlated to root dry weight, root diameter, plant height, node number, effective spike length and 100 seed weight. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that PC1, 2 and 3 accounted for 44.52, 15.93 and 10.54% variation. High loadings in the first three PCs were recorded for nine traits viz., root dry weight, shoot dry weight, root length, total root length, root diameter at crown region, SCMR, effective spike length, node number to primary spike. Hence, present studies gains importance in understanding the root related traits and their role in quantifying the genotypes in terms of divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]