Rice is an important food crop extensively cultivated worldwide, and rice’s grain yield should be improved to meet future food demand. Grain number per panicle is the main trait that determines the grain yield in rice, and other panicle-related traits influence the grain number. To study the genetic diversity, 50 diverse Indian-origin germplasm were evaluated for grain number per panicle and other panicle traits for two consecutive seasons (Rabi 2019 and Kharif 2020). The maximum genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was obtained for the number of spikelets and filled grains per panicle. The genotypes were grouped into eight clusters with Mahalanobis’ D² analysis and six groups using Principal component analysis. Based on, per se, performance for grain number per panicle and genetic distances, six parents were selected and subjected to full diallel mating. The genotypes CB12132, IET 28749, and BPT 5204 were the best general combiners for the number of filled grains per panicle and other panicle branching traits, viz., the number of primary and secondary branches per panicle. The hybrid BPT 5204 × CB 12132 identified as the best specific combination for most of the studied panicle traits. The additive gene effects were high for the number of filled grains per panicle, the number of primary branches, and secondary branches, whereas non-additive gene action was high for the number of productive tillers and grain yield per plant. The information obtained from this study will be useful in rice breeding programs to improve panicle traits, especially the grain number, which would result in higher grain yield.

Blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) yields are noticeably poor due to a shortage of improved varieties and an aggravated narrow genetic base. An attempt was made to isolate novel blackgram mutants by selecting for yield-related traits derived through gamma irradiation and testing the mutant genotype’s stability across the different environments. The irradiated blackgram populations M₁-M₅ were established in the background of cultivars ADT 3, Co 6, and TU 17-9. Desirable mutants were selected from M₃ to M₅ generations. It was observed in M₂ and M₃ that gamma rays showed higher mutagenic efficacy and generated good inherited variance for the yield-related traits. M₄ established three divergent groups in each blackgram cultivar revealed by clustering analysis. The number of pods per plant, number of clusters per plant, and number of pods per cluster showed a strong direct association with single plant yield and could be considered as selection traits. G × E interactions were higher than the variation due to genotype for single plant yield. Limited environmental interaction was observed for the genotypes G24, G16, G36, G30, and G17, as revealed by AMMI, and the genotypes G18 and G29, as revealed by GGE. GGE biplot revealed the environment-specific genotypes G13 for E₁ (Aduthurai), G7 for E₂ (Kattuthottam), and G34 for E₃ (Vamban) and also portrayed the highly discriminating (E₃) and representative (E₂) environments. Selected novel blackgram genotypes from this research are useful genetic stocks for genetic improvement and breeding.

An elephant, being a mega herbivore, consumes large amounts of food. Due to the lack of availability of fodder inside the forest, the elephants move out of their habitat areas and also find agricultural crops attractive, which further results in man–animal conflict. To improve the elephant habitat area, the current study was conducted to assess the availability of native fodder grasses inside the Coimbatore Elephant Reserve, Western Ghats, from April 2021–April 2022. The area falls between 10°37′and 11°31′ North latitudes and 76°39′and 77°5′ East longitudes. It was approached in a systematic random sampling method. A total of 128 sample plots of 1 sq.m size were randomly placed, and the density of grass species was recorded in percentage (%). The collected samples were shade dried for one week, ground to pass through a 1 mm sieve, and stored in polythene bags. Furthermore, the samples were chemically analyzed to determine their nutritional values. The dry matter (DM) content of various grass fodder varied from 28.18% to 59.75%. The crude protein (CP) content differed between 5.94% and 11.94%. The highest CP was recorded in Cynodon dactylon (11.94%) and the least in Aristida setacea (5.94%). Ether extract content was found in the ranges of 1.00% to 5.00%. The acid detergent fibre (ADF) content of Aristida setacea (45.74%) was observed as the highest, whereas the lowest was observed in Oplismenus burmannii (26.78%), followed by Themeda triandra (26.85%), Heteropogon contortus (30.12%) and Enteropogon monostachyos (30.31%). The average neutral detergent fibre content of grass fodder was 52.27%, with a range of 37.89% (Oplismenus burmannii) to 67.87% (Cymbopogon martinii). The average total digestible nutrient (TDN) content of grass was 77.45%; relative forage quality (RFQ) exhibited wider variations among the grasses and ranged between 107.51 and 198.83. This study is a pioneer in evaluating the nutritional values of native grass fodder species for elephants in the Western Ghats. The study gives strategies for the selection of high nutritive fodder grass for the habitat improvement of elephants, and it also provides scientific and baseline information for the conservation of native grass fodder species in the Western Ghats.

A study was undertaken to identify the genetic locus linked with the therapeutic traits, viz., flavonoid and anthocyanin contents in rice grains by Bulk Segregant Analysis using the F2 population derived from the cross, ADT(R)48/Kavuni. The donor for high anthocyanin and flavonoid content was Kavuni, one of the popular landraces of Tamil Nadu, which exists in various forms with respect to grain pigmentation. Through this study, three linked SSR markers, namely, RM228 (Chromosome 10) for flavonoid and anthocyanin content, RM5348 (Chromosome 10) for flavonoid content, and RM297 (Chromosome 1) for anthocyanin content, were identified. Among these markers, RM5348 was identified as a novel marker, lies in the genomic region of the gene encoding the enzyme flavonoid 3’-monooxygenase indicating more reliability. The association of these identified markers was further validated through Single Marker Analysis (SMA), and the results confirmed the strong association of these markers with the respective traits in various forms of Kavuni, other pigmented landraces, and improved cultivars. However, the validation must also be done in a population with another genetic background to prove the stern association of these markers with the traits.