Germplasm assets are critical for hereditary breeding, investigation of complex traits and are conducive to the investigation and creation of unused germplasm. In order to effectively measure genetic divergence and character association for sand pear genetic improvement, yield and yield contributing variables were assessed for 125 genotypes during 2018–2021 in three districts of Himachal Pradesh, India (N-W Himalayas). The results indicated that estimates for eye basin, depth stalk cavity depth, fruit stalk length, non reducing sugars and leaf area high had high PCV and GCV values. High heritability and genetic gain both suggests the existence of additive gene action. The fruit's weight, sugar-to-acid ratio, and titratable acidity were reported, these qualities can be enhanced via direct selection. Fruit weight, total sugars, trunk diameter, total soluble solids (TSS), fruit length, fruit breadth, petiole length, and leaf area all have a high direct effect on plant yield, according to studies of association. Therefore, the overall result suggests that there is substantial diversity in the assessed attributes for them to serve as selection indices for genetic improvement of sand pear.

To assess the nature and magnitude of variability in sand pear genotypes of existing plantations a survey was carried out at Solan and Sirmour districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. On the basis of pre selection survey, a total of 92 healthy and bearing sand pear trees were marked during 2018-2021. Wide variation in qualitative and quantitative characters were observed for fruit (physical and biochemical) as well as yield parameters. Range for TSS, titratable acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, sugar acid ratio, and phenol content was observed as 10.08-18.55°B, 0.12-0.48, 4.95-12.61, 2.95-8.98, 1.01-5.40%, 14.66-68.49 and 1.66-6.40 mg/g, respectively. The cluster dendrogram to elucidate the genetic relationship was performed on the basis of studied parameters to assess pattern of diversity and variability among the accessions. The selected genotypes from existing population excelling in one or more horticultural desirable traits will not only adds to biological diversity but can also be utilized in different breeding programs for development of superior varieties based upon their utility. Bangladesh J. Bot. 52(2): 261-266, 2023 (June)

Somatic mutations (bud sports) add to the genetic variability in many crop species through outcrossing, sexual recombination, polyploidy etc. and consequently alters the overall reproductive growth characteristics, out of which most frequently expressed one is the fruit colour sport. The commercial significance of red colour in apples has generated an increasing interest in the enhanced colour found in apple sports. Many sports of ‘Red delicious’ and 'Gala' have been spoted and of these a number are believed to have enhanced red colour. Keeping in view, present investigations were undertaken to find early coloring bud mutations in different apple growing pockets of Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The research led to the identification of two early colouring bud sports i.e “Kanwar Red” originating from cv. Red Delicious and “Vance Early” originating from cv. Vance Delicious. “Kanwar Red” was found to be early in colouring with marked presence of lenticels scattered on the blushed fruit as compared to the striped fruits of mother variety. In “Vance Early” earliness and high intensity of colouring with the further exception of darker final colour in comparison to the mother variety was found. Apart from these, the bud mutants also differs in several physical and biochemical fruit characters. The commercialization of such bud sports will lead to a reduction in the use of coloring chemicals for fetching early market apart from creating a valuable gene pool which can be used in future breeding programme to develop early colouring strains in apple.

Somatic mutations (bud sports) add to the genetic variability in many crop species through outcrossing, sexual recombination, polyploidy etc. and consequently alters the overall reproductive growth characteristics, out of which most frequently expressed one is the fruit colour sport. The commercial signi cance of red colour in apples has generated an increasing interest in the enhanced colour found in apple sports. Many sports of 'Red delicious' and 'Gala' have been spoted and of these a number are believed to have enhanced red colour. Keeping in view, present investigations were undertaken to nd early coloring bud mutations in different apple growing pockets of Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The research led to the identi cation of two early colouring bud sports i.e "Kanwar Red" originating from cv. Red Delicious and "Vance Early" originating from cv. Vance Delicious. "Kanwar Red" was found to be early in colouring with marked presence of lenticels scattered on the blushed fruit as compared to the striped fruits of mother variety. In "Vance Early" earliness and high intensity of colouring with the further exception of darker nal colour in comparison to the mother variety was found. Apart from these, the bud mutants also differs in several physical and biochemical fruit characters. The commercialization of such bud sports will lead to a reduction in the use of coloring chemicals for fetching early market apart from creating a valuable gene pool which can be used in future breeding programme to develop early colouring strains in apple.