Evaluation of 397 common bean accessions of diverse origin revealed the presence of eVective sources of resistance against bean common mosaic potyvirus strains prevalent in Himachal Pradesh, a north-western Himalayan state of India. 21 accessions viz., KR 7, KR 225, KR 295, KRC 4, KRC 7, KRC 11, KRC 12, KRC 13, KRC 16, KRC 22, Amanda, Black Turtle Soup, Contender, Hans, Great Northern UI 123, Improved Tender Green 40031, Jubila, Kentucky wonder, Monroe, Premier and Sanilac, were found resistant to NL-1n and NL-7n strains. Some of the genotypes showed strain speciWc resistance. Pattern of inheritance studied in Hans, Contender, KRC 4 and KRC 22 of Indian origin against strain NL-1n revealed that single dominant gene governed the resistance in Hans and Contender whereas single recessive gene determined the resistance in KRC 22 and KRC 4. SCAR marker SW13 690 ampliWed a product of 690 bp in Hans and Contender, conWrmed the presence of I gene in these cultivars. The implications of above genes in breeding for programme for BCMV resistance are discussed.

Twenty-two genotypes of amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) were evaluated for 12 quantitative traits for two years and the pooled data was analyzed. The mean, range, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability in broad sense and genetic advance were calculated. Path coefficient analysis was carried out using correlation coefficients to know the yield-contributing traits having true associations with seed yield. The low differences between the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variations indicated low environmental influences on the expression of the traits studied. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance for yield/day to maturity, yield/day to seed fill, harvest index, panicle girth and seed yield/plant was observed. All the traits except days to seed fill possessed positive association with grain yield. Harvest index was positively correlated with days to maturity. Harvest index, aerial biomass/plant and days to maturity also had high phenotypic and genotypic direct effects on seed yield/plant, revealing that indirect selection for these traits would be effective in improving seed yield. Highlights• The characters yield/day to maturity, yield/day to seed fill, harvest index, panicle girth and seed yield/plant showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance • The path coefficient analysis revealed harvest index, panicle girth, aerial biomass/plant and days to maturity as the most important yield component traits that should be taken into account while formulating selection strategies in amaranth.

A high yielding bread wheat variety HI 1628 (Pusa Wheat 1628) has been released and notified by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops, Government of India for commercial cultivation under timely sown, restricted irrigated conditions of North Western Plains Zone (NWPZ) of the country. HI 1628 has an average yield of 50.4 q/ha over the zone and showed significant superiority over the checks; with a potential yield of 65.1 q/ha. It has shown an excellent and wider adaptation and significantly superior performance across different irrigation regimes over the checks with an average yield of 45.5 q/ha. It showed high levels of field resistance to stripe and leaf rusts. It is a good quality bread wheat genotype with excellent chapati quality (7.56), bread quality (7.64), biscuit spread factor (8.27) and high sedimentation value (56.6 ml). It has high protein content (~11 %) and protein quality (Glu score of 8/10) for high molecular weight subunits and presence of 5+10 subunit of Glu-D1 reflecting higher gluten strength in the genotype. It has good levels of essential micronutrients like iron and zinc making it rich in nutritional qualities. This variety has promise for timely sown, restricted irrigation planting areas and thus will contribute to increase wheat production and will alleviate the socio-economic status of farmers of NWPZ of India.

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A comparative study of frequency and spectrum of chlorophyll mutations induced by physical (gamma rays) and chemical mutagens (EMS) in relation to the effect of mutations in M 1 plant, induction of mutants in M 2 and variability studies in M 3 generation was made in two ricebean (Vigna umbellata Thunb, Ohwi and Ohashi) varieties; one local (Totru Local) and one widely cultivated one (BRS-1) during [2005][2006][2007][2008]. The treatments included three doses each of gamma rays (30, 40 and 50 kR) and EMS (0.50, 0.60 and 0.70%). Both gamma rays and EMS proved to be hazardous for germination and plant survival at higher dose and the comparative reduction in these characters was higher under EMS treatments than gamma rays. The frequencies and spectrum of five different kind of induced chlorophyll mutations was in the order; viridis > xantha = albina > chlorina > albo-viridis in BRS-1 and viridis > xantha > albina > chlorina = albo-viridis in Totru Local. EMS was found to be more effective in inducing maximum frequencies of chlorophyll mutants than gamma rays. Highest frequency of chlorophyll mutants were found under O.50% EMS in BRS-1 and 0.70% EMS in Totru Local. Genotypic differences were seen as highest frequency of mutations was observed in Totru Local which was more sensitive to mutagenic treatments than BRS-1. The coefficients of variation for all quantitative characters studied in M 3 generation were of higher magnitude compared to control in both the cultivars. The lower doses (30kR in gamma rays and 0.50% in EMS) were found to be the most important doses for inducing desirable variability in ricebean and three traits i.e. pods per cluster, seeds per pod and pod length showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance in both BRS-1 and Totru Local indicating that breeding for these traits can be achieved by phenotypic selection.