Naked barley is a traditional, climate-resilient and highly nutritious crop of the high mountains of Nepal. Knowledge of agro-morphological diversity among the naked barely genotypes is fundamental for their efficient utilization in plant breeding schemes and effective conservation programs. The primary objective of this study is phenotypic characterization and diversity assessment of naked barley landraces in Nepal for pre-breeding purposes. Data on quantitative and qualitative traits of 25 naked barley landraces from diversity blocks established across the four mountainous locations of Nepal (Humla, Jumla, Dolakha and Lamjung) were subjected to calculation of descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis (UPGMA cluster analysis/principal component analysis). Frequency distribution of various categories of qualitative traits and Shannon–Weaver diversity indices were computed. The UPGMA cluster analysis using both quantitative and qualitative traits individually categorized the 25 naked barley landraces in five clusters in each case with no distinct regional grouping patterns in such a way that the landraces from same or adjacent regions of origin and collection amassed in different clusters. NGRC04894, Lamjung Local, NGRC02306, NPGR1579, NGRC02327 and NPGR1579 exhibited morphoagronomical superiority and potentiality for utilization as genitors in crop improvement programs. Principal component analysis revealed the quantitative traits, viz. grain yield, plant height and earliness, and qualitative traits, viz. grain color, overall phenotypic performance, lemma awn/hood and lemma awn barbs, to be the principal discriminatory characteristics of the Nepalese naked barley landrace collection. The Shannon–Weaver diversity index (H′) ranged from 0.32 to 0.99 with a mean value of 0.73, inferring tremendous diversity in the collection for the qualitative traits. The marked diversity observed among the Nepalese naked barley landraces could be utilized in crop improvement for various traits. The information generated complements the robust breeding program of competitive, stable and climate-resilient varieties of end users’ preferences in different mountainous agro-ecologies and also bolsters the employment of innovative and proven participatory plant breeding approach using diversity kits and informal research and development kits to expand and promote the varietal choice options for expeditious benefits to the farmers in the high mountains, considering that only one naked barley variety, viz. Solu Uwa, has been released in Nepal to date.

Rhizoctonia root rot and web blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn is one of the destructive diseases of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). A two-year study was conducted (2019–2021) to evaluate the common bean landraces and genotype, biocontrol agents, and chemical fungicides against the pathogen. Nine landraces from high-altitude agriculture in the Jumla district in western Nepal (29.27443900, 82.19332200; 2540 m msl) and one genotype of commercial common bean from the sub-tropical Chitwan district in central Nepal (27.65186564, 84.34869288; 256 m masl) were evaluated for resistance against the pathogen under screenhouse and field conditions. All were found highly susceptible to the pathogen and the highest lesion length (3.02 cm) was measured in the Rato Male Simi followed by Rato Sano Chhirke Simi (2.40 cm) in Chitwan conditions. Three chemical fungicides—SAAF™ (carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP), Vitavax^® (carboxin 37.5% + thiram 37.5% DS), and Nativo^® (tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% w/w (75 WG)—and three biocontrol agents—Trichoderma viride (10⁹ cfu/mL), Pseudomonas fluorescens (10⁹ cfu/mL), and Bacillus subtilis (10⁸ cfu/mL)—were evaluated as seed and soil treatments in fourteen different combinations against R. solani. SAAF™ and Vitavax^® were found highly effective as they completely suppressed the incidence of pre-emergence damping off. SAAF™ was equally effective followed by Vitavax^® and Nativo^® in suppressing post-emergence damping off. On the other hand, the highest disease incidence (26.63%) was recorded in treatment where seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens formulation at the rate of 10 g per kg of FYM slurry along with soil application with Pseudomonas fluorescens formulation at the rate of 10 kg per ha with 50 kg FYM was applied, whereas the lowest disease incidence (4.96%) occurred in SAAF™ for both seed and soil applications. Highest grain yield (4125 kg/ha) was recorded on Nativo^® where seed treatment at the rate of 1.5 g per kg along with soil drenching at the rate of 1.5 g per liter was used. Thus, it can be concluded that the best control for pre-emergence damping off was achieved by SAAF™ where seed treatment at the rate of 2 g per kg along with soil drenching at the rate of 2 g per liter and Vitavax^® as seed treatment at the rate of 2 g per kg along with soil drenching at the rate of 2 g per liter was used, while the best control of post-emergence damping off was achieved with combined seed treatment and soil treatment with SAAF™. There was no incidence of web blight throughout the growing period. Our findings could be useful in devising strategies for the integrated management of R. solani causing root rot disease in common beans.

Drawing upon the serious food insecurity issues and continually growing impacts of climate change on livelihood, diversity sourcing of climate-resilient, nutritionally rich crops like foxtail millet through diversity assessment and on-farm evaluation could be a reliable avenue to meet farmer’s need and improve food security in the extremely mountainous agro-ecology of Nepal and elsewhere. In context of meager research on foxtail millet in Nepal, we conducted on-farm diversity assessment studies of 27 Nepalese foxtail millet landraces in 2015. Subsequently, we identified 8 locally adaptable and robust foxtail millet genotypes based on the inferences of diversity block trial and evaluated them under Humla and Jumla conditions in 2016 for sourcing end-user preferred varietal diversity. Our studies revealed existence of marked diversity among the Nepalese foxtail millet accessions, which could be effectively utilized for crop improvement. Kalo Kaguno, Seto Kaguno, Aule Kaguno, and CO1896 were found to be superior yielders in descending order while CO5644 and CO5647 were substantially found early maturing. Apart from acknowledging the potentiality of these genotypes as promising parents, we encourage deployment of the sourced diversity through participatory plant breeding approaches using informal research and development and diversity kits for expeditious benefits to the local farmers.

The present study was carried out to study the genetic parameters for yield, yield contributing, quality and nutritional characters along with reaction of genotypes against iron chlorosis in vertisols. The experiment consisted of 50 promising genotypes along with standard checks viz., Basmati-370, Parag and Avishkar were grown in randomized block design with three replications. The analysis of variance revealed that all the characters under study. Different genotypes showed some degrees of tolerance to iron chlorosis. And, some other characteristics like number of effective tillers per plant, number of filled grains per panicle, number of unfilled grains per panicle, gel consistency, flag leaf area, straw yield, grain yield per plot and grain yield per plant showed high estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation, high heritability with high genetic advance. All characters which exhibited high estimates of both genotypic and phenotypic variance coupled with high heritability and high genetic advance can be employed for simple selection for crop improvement. Furthermore, variation in such characters are result of additive gene effects and can be explored and studied for potentialities of being used as parents in breeding program for improvement for particular traits.

Effect of different culture media, pH levels and natural substrates on mycelial growth and sporulation of Alternaria porri and Stemphylium vesicarium, incitants of purple blotch complex of onion was investigated. Maximum colony growth of A. porri and S. vesicarium was recorded on oat meal agar and Richard’s agar while, oat meal agar and V8 juice agar recorded the maximum sporulation, respectively. Similarly, pH 5.0 and 6.0 on potato dextrose agar (PDA) recorded the maximum colony growth of A. porri and S. vesicarium, respectively. None of the pH levels on PDA supported the sporulation of A. porri while maximum sporulation of S. vesicarium was recorded on pH 5.0. Onion seed stalks and garlic leaves were found to be the most suitable natural substrates for mass multiplication of A. porri and S. vesicarium, respectively. The present findings are useful for preparation of inoculums required for resistance breeding and fungicidal evaluation against purple blotch complex.