Drought is a major and constantly increasing abiotic stress factor, thus limiting chickpea production. Like other crops, Kabuli Chickpea genotypes are screened for drought stress through Multi-environment trials (METs). Although, METs analysis is generally executed taking into account only one trait, which provides less significant reliability for the recommendation of genotypes as compared to multi trait-based analysis. Multi trait-based analysis could be used to recommend genotypes across diverse environments. Hence, current research was conducted for selection of superior genotypes through multi-trait stability index (MTSI) by using mixed and fixed effect models under six diverse environments. The genotypic stability was computed for all traits individually using the weighted average of absolute scores from the singular value decomposition of the matrix of best linear unbiased predictions for the genotype vs environment interaction (GEI) effects produced by a linear mixed-effect model index. A superiority index, WAASBY was measured to reflect the MPS (Mean performance and stability). The selection differential for the WAASBY index was 11.2%, 18.49% and 23.30% for grain yield (GY), primary branches per plant (PBP) and Stomatal Conductance (STOMA) respectively. Positive selection differential (0.80% ≤ selection differential ≤ 13.00%) were examined for traits averaged desired to be increased and negative (-0.57% ≤ selection differential ≤ -0.23%) for those traits desired to be reduced. The MTSI may be valuable to the plant breeders for the selection of genotypes based on many characters as being strong and simple selection process. Analysis of MTSI for multiple environments revealed that, the genotypes G20, G86, G31, G28, G116, G12, G105, G45, G50, G10, G30, G117, G81, G48, G85, G17, G32, G4, and G37 were the most stable and high yielding out of 120 chickpea genotypes, probably due to high MPS of selected traits under various environments. It is concluded that identified traits can be utilized as genitors in hybridization programs for the development of drought tolerant Kabuli Chickpea breeding material.

The development of new crop varieties is a continuous process as old cultivars become susceptible to various biotic and abiotic stresses, thus decreasing the yield potential. The newly developed rapeseed variety “Barani Sarsoon” a high-yielding, disease resistant and drought tolerant has been developed through the selection method of breeding from the exotic material. A promising progeny of a single plant was selected and named “14CBN009”. The performance of “14CBN009” was further evaluated along with standard varieties in various replicated yield trials for six years from 2014-15 to 2018-19. The selected line “14CBN009” produced a higher grain yield (kg/ha) than the standard varieties in all replicated yield trials with a yield potential of 3378 kg/hectare which is tolerant to drought and resistant to diseases. The best sowing time for this variety is from 25th September to 15th October with a seed rate of 2.50 kg/acre. The seed contains 44.53% oil content. The main yield contributing characters of “14CBN009” are pods per plant, seeds per pod and thousand-seed weight. Based on the desirable phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, higher grain yield and oil content percentage, “14CBN009” was approved as a rapeseed variety with the name of “Barani Sarsoon” by the Punjab Seed Council in its 55th meeting held on Sep 20, 2021, for commercial cultivation in the Punjab rainfed areas. Due to high yielding, drought and disease-tolerant characteristics, the new variety “Barani Sarsoon” will prove to be a good alternative to existing varieties and improve the production and income of the oilseed crops growers of the rainfed area.

Among foliar diseases Leaf spot, yellow mosaic virus (YMV) and Urd bean leaf crinkle virus (ULCV) are destructive diseases of mash bean (Vigna mungo) in Pakistan. Incorporation of resistance against biotic stress in plants is traditional strategy of crop improvement through breeding. Effective breeding for biotic stresses entails readily accessible resistant germplasm. 67 genotypes were evaluated for multi disease resistance was tested for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) at Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal. Experiment was repeated with an idea to decrease the effect of environment and those material was selected which performed same in both years. Out of 67 genotypes 12 were resistant against leaf spot infection and 19 genotypes were found highly resistant against yellow mosaic virus during both years. In case of ULCV disease did not appear during 2020. However, 19 genotypes showed resistance against ULCV during first year of experiment. Two genotypes namely 3CM-703 and 4CM-720 exhibited resistance response to all foliar diseases under study. Three genotypes viz. 4CM-716, 4CM-720, 5CM-708 demonstrated resistance against YMV as well as leaf spot. 4CM716, 4CM720, 5CM708, 7CM701, 7CM702, 7CM704, 7CM705, 7CM706 expressed resistance against leaf spot and ULCV simultaneously. The data generated is useful for improvement of mash bean through breeding.