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Background: Multi environmental trials (MET) is central activity in crop improvement programs for identification of superior genotype across environment before release as a variety. The aim of the present study was to select faba bean genotypes having high seed yield and most stable performance across different environments in gangetic plains of India. Methods: The material for the study consisted of set of 11 genotype of faba bean subjected to multi-locational seed yield trials for three years (2015-2018) at four locations. The test of significance for genotype x environment (GE) interaction and eight non-parametric measures of stability analysis were used to identify high yield stable genotype across the five environments. A new approach Combined Stability Index based on yield stability performance calculated based on the ranking of the used stability measures of all the genotypes. Result: Based on low value of Combined Stability Index, HB-12-37, (CSI(i) = 10) HB-11-15, (CSI(i) = 11), HB-11-32 (CSI(i) = 14) were identified as the most stable genotypes with high yield potential. These non-parametric measures were observed to be associated with high mean seed yield. The simple rank correlation coefficient, calculated using the ranks was used to measure the association among the eight stability statistics and mean seed yield. The nature of relationships among the non-parametric measures was assessed and these stability measures are categorized in three groups. The genotype HB-12-37 (G3) fall in section 1 were the most favourable genotype due to high seed yield as well as high stability performance according to plot of all non-parametric measures with seed yield. HB-12-37 (G3) which had higher seed yield (25.19 q / ha) and high protein content (24.85%) with better stability across the environments could be used in further breeding programmes of faba bean and recommended for release as variety for plains of India.

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The study was carried out during rabi 2015-17 to understand the nature and magnitude of genetic variability and character association of 45 accessions of Indian mustard. These accessions were evaluated for 16 quantitative traits under standard package of practices. The results indicated high PCV and GCV for 1000 seed weight, stover nitrogen uptake (STNU) and seed nitrogen uptake (SNU) while it was low for NUE. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for 1000 seed weight, STNU and oil content which indicates the involvement of additive gene action, thus feasibility of improvement through simple selection. Seed yield had a positive and significant correlation with seed uptake efficiency, nitrogen harvest index and NUE. First five principal components gave eigenvalues >1.0 and cumulatively expressed 80.67% of the total variation (Table 2). PCA exhibited that plant height, NBP, number of siliquae in the main branch, nitrogen (%) in seed, total nitrogen (%), SNU and seed yield (Kg/ha) were among the most important traits accounting for more than 50% phenotypic variation. Therefore, these quantitative traits should be considered to enhance yield potential as they will be beneficial to develop promising varieties. Accessions such as IC67693, IC277700, IC268336 and RH-30 were identified to be distantly plotted on the dendrogram, thus more diverse in nature. Donors for various traits were also determined based on their pooled performance e.g. IC267693, IC338494, IC571625, IC339605 and IC571654 for seed yield.

Brassicas are highly responsive to N application and require relatively high rates of mineral N fertilizers for optimum seed yields. Present study was carried out at the Experimental Farm of ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, India during 2015–16 and 2016–17. Forty five accessions of Indian mustard were tested under three different nitrogen fertilizer rates i.e. Control (0 kg/ha), moderate (40 kg/ha) and optimal (80 kg/ha) to determine the performance of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.). The results showed that with increase in nitrogen fertilizer rate seed test weight, oil content, stover yield, seed nitrogen uptake, total nitrogen uptake, seed uptake efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and seed yield also increased. However, some accessions performed better under low nitrogen condition. For example, IC267538, IC311819 showed more plant height under zero N-fertilizer application as compared to high N dose. Out of 45 accessions, 36 showed more no. of branches at zero N dose. Accession IC571402 was the best performer under zero N dose as it showed superiority for 8 different traits, viz. no. of branches/plant, test weight, oil content, N% in plants, N% in seed, total N%, grain uptake efficiency and Nitrogen Harvest Index. Similarly, accessions IC424415 and IC571654 performed well for 7 different traits. A set of Brassica juncea germplasm which performed better under low N fertilizer conditions were identified. These nitrogen use efficient accessions would be useful for breeders/researchers to develop varieties of mustard for low nitrogen usages.