Reeta is a popular late-maturing high-yielding rice variety recommended for cultivation in the eastern Indian states. The cultivar is highly sensitive to submergence stress. Phosphorus deficiency is an additional constraint for realizing high yield. The quantitative trait loci (QTLs), Sub1, for submergence and Pup1 for low phosphorus stress tolerance along with narrow-grained trait, GW5 were introgressed into the variety from the donor parent, Swarna-Sub1 through marker-assisted breeding. In addition, phenotypic selections for higher panicle weight, grain number, and spikelet fertility were performed in each segregating generation. Foreground selection detected the 3 target QTLs in 9, 8 and 7 progenies in the BC₁F₁, BC₂F₁, and BC₃F₁ generation, respectively. Recurrent parent’s genome recovery was analyzed using 168 SSR polymorphic markers. The foreground analysis in 452 BC₃F₂ progenies showed five pyramided lines in homozygous condition for the target QTLs. No donor fragment drag was noticed in the Sub1 and GW5 QTLs carrier while a segmentwas observed in the Pup1 carrier chromosome. The developed lines were higher yielding, had submergence, and had low phosphorus stress-tolerance alongwith similar to the recipient parent in the studied morpho-quality traits. A promising pyramided line is released in the name of Reeta-Panidhan (CR Dhan 413) for the flood-prone areas of Odisha state.

Background: Combining ability is a measure that enables breeders to select better parents and outstanding hybrids. General combining ability and specific combining ability is used to determine best performing parents and vigorous hybrids respectively and provides an opportunity to understand the nature of gene action involved in inheritance of each character. Methods: A combining ability analysis was carried out with six mungbean varieties and their 15 F2 crosses derived from half diallel fashion. Data was recorded for 10 characters and were subjected to statistical analysis using method-II and model-1 of Griffing’s approach. Result: There was importance of both additive and non-additive gene action in inheritance of all the characters as apprehended from significant values in mean sum of square due to GCA and SCA. Studies on components of variance due to GCA and SCA indicated there was preponderance of additive gene action for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and pod length whereas non-additive gene action was expressed for other characters. Four parents viz., Kamdev, Pant Mung-8, MGG-385 and OBGG-52 were considered as best general combiners on the basis of significant GCA effects for a number of yield and its related traits. Based on SCA effects and per se performance, the crosses IPM-02-14/OBGG-58, OBGG-52/OBGG-58 and MGG-385/OBGG-52 displayed significant SCA in desirable direction along with high mean for many of the yield attributing characters. Highest significant SCA for seed yield was observed by the cross Kamdev/IPM-02-14. These selected parents and crosses can be used for further breeding programmes for crop improvement in mungbean.