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Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) production is expanding into temperate and tropical environments. Yield stability studies under rhizobia inoculation were investigated in 24 soybean genotypes over two successive growing seasons at three agro-ecological zone of Nigeria, during the 2015-2016 rainy seasons. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot design and replicated three times. Treatments were 24 soybean genotypes and three levels of rhizobia inoculation. Results indicated that the variation of genotypes and inoculation on percentage emergence, height, number of leaves, number of branches per plant, total biomass yield, above-ground biomass and seed yield was significant (p = .05). The effects of genotypes (G), environment (E) and G 9 E interactions on seed yield were also significant. Two soybean genotypes (TGx 1989-45F and TGx 1990-110FN) were identified as the most promising in relation to yield stability. Of the three locations, Abuja produced the least interaction effects followed by Igabi and may be most appropriate environments for large-scale soybean production. Appropriate inoculation of soybean with inoculants (LegumeFix and or NoduMax) should be encouraged in farmer's field.

Seed yield of selected Nigerian Bambara Groundnut landraces under two varying water conditions was evaluated. Twenty eight (28) Bambara groundnut accessions were planted in a randomized complete block design with two treatments (Nonwater stressed and Water stressed) and replicated five times. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Garden of the Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. The accessions were planted in planting bags during the cropping season of 2016 between July and October. The two treatments were rain fed until maturity except during the period of exposure to water stress where the water stressed plants were transferred to a screen house made with polyvinyl ceiling to prevent water during the flowering stage for two weeks. It was observed that water stress reduced the yield of the Bambara groundnut landraces by 47%. Accessions NGB-01646-B, NGR-NI-20-H and NGB-01491 which had relatively high yield in the stressed and non-water stressed condition were considered the most drought tolerant accessions and accession NGR-KG-02-C with low yield both in stressed and non-stressed conditions was identified as the most susceptible accession. Accessions which had high yield only in water stressed conditions could serve as elite line for Bambara groundnut for areas which have problem of drought. These drought tolerant accessions identified in the research can serve as potential parent lines in breeding programmes aimed at the development of drought tolerant varieties of Bambara groundnut.

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Morphological and cytological evaluation of pepper accessions is important for breeding and improvement programme on the crop. The lack of understanding on the genetic variation of pepper accessions has led to little progress in breeding and improvement of the crop. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to characterize some available pepper accessions based on morphological, agronomic and cytological characters and their suitability for subsequent use in breeding programme. The field experiment was conducted at GidanMangoro, Bosso Local Government Area,Minna, Niger State, in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The cytological investigation was carried out at the laboratory of the Department of Crop Production, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. Data were collected on plant height, leaf length, leaf width, days to first flowering, days to 50 % flowering, fruit length, fruit girth, number of fruits, average fruit weight average seed weight and plant growthhabit. From Analysis of Variance, genotypic variance (GV), phenotypic variance (PV), genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV),heritability and genetic advance were estimated. There were significant differences in the accessions studied. Analysis of variance for genetic diversity revealed that plant height, leaf width and all yield components studied contributed to genetic diversity. The highest heritability value was observed in average fruit weight per plant (98 %). Accessions DKD-RD and DG-SB performed best as characterized by early days to first flowering, number of fruits per plant, number of branches and fruit girth. The variance of component of variation result revealed that PCV values were greater than those of GVC. Also, genetic advance (GA) was higher than heritability. The cytological study showed that at meiosis, two daughter cells divides and formed four daughter cells thereby contributing to genetic variation. Based on the findings of this research work, it is recommended that breeders should collect germplasm from DKD-RD, DG-SB, DSKT-RD and DADAM for further breeding and improvement programme of the crop.