Line x tester analysis was carried out in black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper], an edible legume, to estimate the gca (general combining ability) effects of parents (3 lines and 3 testers) and the SCA (specific combining ability) effects of 9 crosses for seed yield and other eleven quantitative traits. Though additive and nonadditive gene actions governed the expression of quantitative traits, the magnitude of nonadditive gene action was higher than that of additive gene action for each quantitative trait. Two parents viz. 'UG157' and 'DPU915' were good general combiners. Two crosses namely 'PDB 88-31'/'DPU 915' and 'PLU 277'/'KAU7' had high per se performance along with positive significant SCA effect for seed yield/plant. The degree of dominance revealed overdominance for all the traits except clusters/plant with partial dominance. The predictability ratio also revealed the predominant role of nonadditive gene action in the genetic control of quantitative traits. Narrow sense heritability was also low for each trait. Recurrent selection or biparental mating followed by selection which can exploit both additive and nonadditive gene actions would be of interest for yield improvement in black gram. Due to presence of high magnitude of nonadditive gene action, heterosis breeding could also be attempted to develop low cost hybrid variety using genetic male sterility system in black gram.

The population trend of black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) and its larval parasitoid, Blepharella lateralis Macquart in chickpea was studied at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS),

The population trend of insect pest of sunflower was studied at North bank plain zone of river Brahmaputra, Biswanath district in the state of Assam during 2021-2022. The simple correlation study showed bright sunshine hour had a positive and significant correlation with the whitefly population relative humidity had a positive and significant correlation with the Aphis gossypii and Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida population; A. gossypii had positive and significant relation with maximum temperature and Spilosoma obliqua had negative and significant relation with relative humidity.