No abstract

Grain Amaranths are important nutritional vegetables in the world for their grains and leaves. Twelve grain Amaranth accessions were evaluated for their performances using randomized complete block design with 3 replications in the cropping seasons of 2016 and 2017 to measure variability, Classify the accessions and select outstanding genotypes. Analysis of Variance and accessions performances revealed significant variability among the grain Amaranths. Phenotypic variances were higher in magnitude than genotypic variance for all the traits studied. The high genetic advance was obtained for all the characters except 1000 grain weight (23.61). The genotypic coefficients of variations were lower than the phenotypic coefficient of variations. Heritability ranged from 41.08% for grain yield/plot to 62.18% for plant height at flowering. Grain yield was positive and highly significantly correlated with 1000 grain weight, leaf area but significantly correlated only with leaf length and leaf width. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed four main components of variations representing 78.06% of the total variability among the 12-grain amaranth accessions. The PCA identified all the 12 traits as strongly correlated with the three principal components. PC1 is well-correlated with plant height at flowering, stem girth, a number of leaves, plant height at maturity, leaf width, leaf length, leaf area and petiole length. The bi-plot analysis classified the accession NG/AA/03/11/010, NGB 01259, and NGB 0127 as having good leaf yield and desired leaf traits, Accession NHGB/09/108, NG/AO/08/04 and NGB 01261 were grouped as better grain yield with good yield attributes, while accession NGB 01234, NHGB 09/09 and NHAC3 are good dual-purpose accessions having good grain and leaf yield.

Traditional Ofada rice varieties from South-West, Nigeria is preferred for its unique taste, aroma and massive potential for export but has low yield. Based on this background, two Ofada rice varieties, FUNAABOR 1 and FUNAABOR 2 were irradiated to create genetic variability as it affects vegetative traits. Seeds from the varieties were exposed to nine levels of 60Co gamma irradiation (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 Gy). The seeds were nursed for 30 days before M1 seedlings were transplanted into a well tilled soil in a two factorial RCBD with three replicates. Selections from M1 plants were used to establish M2 plants generation. The results revealed diverse effects of 60Co gamma irradiation treatments on different plant vegetative traits. The establishment rates of M1 Ofada rice population were unaffected (p > 0.01) by increasing gamma irradiation from 0 to 300 Gy but decreased at 350 Gy. Above 300 Gy, tiller numbers, plant height, lodging incidence, leaf number, leaf length and leaf angle decreased significantly when compared with control (p < 0.01) in both generations (M1 and M2). Moderately tillered (10 tillers), tall plant (116.9 cm) obtained from 350 dosage rate recorded highest grain weight of 7.8 g per panicle. High phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) promoted by the irradiation dosages in M1 selection indicate the extent of environmental influence. High broad sense heritability observed from leaf number, leaf angle, leaf length, leaf blade colour, basal leaf sheath colour and grain weight per panicle shows possibility of rapid genetic improvement of these characters through selection.