Characterization of Multiple Grain Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Biramsundari from Bangladesh

Biramsundari is a rice germplasm from Bangladesh showing one to four grain in a single seed. Comparative study of morphological traits revealed that BS is a taller rice variety compared to modern rice varieties with longer and wider flag leaves, longer panicle length and higher thousand seed weight (TSW) than transplanted aman rice variety BRRI dhan 49. Flower morphological analysis unveil that multiple grains of Biramsundari are originating from multiple number of carpels in each floret. About 40.1% flower contains three carpels. Fluorescent microscopic study also confirms the zygotic origin of multiple grain formation in Biramsundari. Molecular characterisation of Biramsundari was performed by using TeaCpSSR27 and TeaCpSSR28 chloroplast microsatellite markers. The results of this investigation reveal that atpF and rsp14-psaB intergenic spacer regions of Biramsundari have variation compared to sequences of with O. sativa ssp. indica, O. sativa ssp. japonica and O. rufipogon. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 31(2): 115-122, 2021 (December)

Seed Production of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) under Danish Field Conditions

High and stable seed yield is critical for red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seed production and the commercial exploitation of the crop. A three-year experiment was conducted from 2013 to 2015 under Danish field conditions to explore the influence of precipitation during peak flowering on the seed yield of three red clover cultivars. We investigated the flowering duration and intensity based on a visual scale assessment, seed yield, and thousand seed weight in all three experimental years. In 2014 and 2015 we measured the seed yield components of floret number per flower head, seed number per flower head, and seed set. During the experimental period, high seed yields of more than 1000 kg ha−1 were obtained for the diploid cultivars ‘Rajah’ and ‘Suez’. Although a relatively high seed yield of 500 kg ha−1 was obtained in the tetraploid cultivar ‘Amos’, this was only around half of the seed yield and seed set of the diploid cultivars. Precipitation during peak flowering positively influenced the seed yield and thousand seed weight for the three cultivars. We conclude that observations of flowering phenology are required to determine the impact of environmental conditions on seed yield in red clover cultivars. Further, adequate water supply during peak flowering is important to obtain the high seed yield of red clover.

Genetic variation among selected pure lines from Turkish barley landrace ‘Tokak’ in yield-related and malting quality traits

Aim of study: Improvement of barley cultivars for malting traits suffers from narrow genetic pool in barley for these traits. Landraces are resources that could be used for this purpose. The present study was conducted to determine the variation for malting quality traits within a Turkish barley landrace. Area of study: The study was undertaken in Tokat, a province in Black Sea Region of Turkey. Material and methods: Twenty-five diverse lines, out of 42 unique genotypes previously identified in ‘Tokak’ landrace (PI 470281) based on DNA markers, were evaluated for malting quality traits along with the malting barley cv. ‘Tokak 157/37’ in four field trials. Thousand-seed weight, test weight, grain yield, lodging, malt extract percentage, diastatic power, alpha amylase and malt beta glucanase activities, malt protein and starch contents were determined. Main results: Principal component analysis of malting quality traits revealed that thousand-seed weight, alpha amylase activity, beta glucanase activity and diastatic power were the most discriminatory traits for the lines. As the average of four trials, 15 of the 25 lines evaluated had higher grain yields and 10 of 25 lines had higher malt extract percentages than the standard cultivar ‘Tokak 157/37’. Malt extract was highest in Line 59 in all environments, and this line also had the highest values for beta glucanase activity and starch content. Line 215 had highest values for alpha amylase activity. Lines 59 and 215 clearly had superior malting quality. Research highlights: These lines could harbor novel alleles for these traits to be used in malting barley improvement.

Evaluation of Salinity Tolerant Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes through Multivariate Analysis of Agronomic Traits

Background: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the second major global cereals mostly grown in winter season which led wheat plants to suffer with salinity stress. Twenty to thirty percent of the arable land of the world is present in the saline area. Therefore, it is necessary to develop salinity tolerant wheat varieties to meet the future food demand. Methods: A field experiment was carried out during November 2018 to March 2019 to observe the effect of salinity on yield and other desired plant characters and finally screening of wheat genotypes for salinity tolerance. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized design containing three treatments with three replications. The treatments were three levels of salinity such as control, 8 dS m-1 and 15 dS m-1. Multivariate and principal components analysis was executed to evaluate yield and other plant characters. Result: The results of the experiment revealed that different plant characters showed wide range of variation under different salinity levels. Biplot analysis considering PC1 and PC2 revealed that grain yield was positively correlated with grain spike-1, spike length, thousand seed weight and total tiller plant-1. Correlation study also revealed that total tiller plant-1, spikelet spike-1, grain spike-1 and thousand seed weight showed significant and positive relation with grain yield plant-1. On the basis of yield reduction percent and yield the genotypes G12 (2.51 g), G16 (2.49 g) and G4 (2.19 g) were found suitable for 15 dS m-1 salinity.

Use of cover crops in Oxisol and its effects on yield and soybean oil content

In the no-tillage system, soils generally exhibit some degree of compaction that limits agricultural production. In this scenario, the use of soil cover plants is one of the alternatives capable of improving the structural quality of the soil and increasing the productivity of crops, such as soybeans. In the context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of plant cover species and management systems on the improvement of the physical characteristics of a Oxisol and its effects on the production and content of soybean oil. The treatments consisted of control, no-tillage system with gypsum, chiseling system, and 12 treatments with soil cover species composed of 6 summer species and 6 winter species, in completely randomized design. Soil samples were collected in the 0-0.1; 0.1-0.2 and 0.2-0.3 m layers for determination of bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), microporosity, macroporosity, and saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) in 2014, 2017, 2018. Grain yield, oil content, thousand-seed weight, mean plant height and number of plants per meter were evaluated in soybean crop. Mean treatment values were compared by Tukey’s test at 5% significance. Five months after the chiseling system, there was no influence on BD. The treatments did not present differences six months after the application of gypsum. BD, TP, micro and macroporosity and Ksat were the variables most influenced by the periods of the year in the three soil layers. Grain yield, oil content, thousand-seed weight, plant height and number of plants per meter were influenced by the seasons.

Selection criteria for yield in safflower (Charthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes under rainfed conditions

This research was conducted on 20 safflower genotypes and lasted 3 years (2014-2016) in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The experiments were conducted in randomized block design with four replications. The relationships among yield 9 other traits in safflower genotypes were investigated. As the average of three years, the greatest seed yield (SY) was obtained from genotype G5 (PI 451952) with 3156.3 kg·ha-1. It was followed by genotypes G4 (PI 525458) and G9 (PI 306686) with 3013.2 and 2977.1 kg·ha-1, respectively. Among the standard cultivars, the greatest seed yield (2750.4 kg·ha-1) was obtained from the Dinçer cultivar. The greatest oil content (OC) was obtained from the genotype G11 (PI 537665) with 36.5%. It was followed by the genotypes G9 (PI 306686) (35.4%), G6 (PI 537598) (35.4%) and G14 (PI 560169) (35.3%). Oil contents varied between 29.1-36.5%. Yield-trait relationships were assessed through both correlation analysis and GT (Genotype by Trait) biplot analysis. Based on the results of the two approaches, plant height (PH), number of branches (NB), number of heads (NH) and thousand-seed weight (TSW) were identified as the most significant selection criteria for yield from safflower. The combined use of correlation and biplot analysis in the assessment of relationships among the traits improved the chance for success.

Variability, Heritability and Genetic advance of introduced upland rice genotypes at Fogera in North Western Ethiopia

Variability, heritability and genetic advance are basic in order to provide information for plant breeding programs. Forty nine upland rice genotypes were tested in 7*7 simple lattice design at Fogera in Wereta station of Adet Agricultural Research Center in 2012/13. The objectives of the study were to estimate the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of the genotypes tested. Analysis of variance revealed that there was highly significant difference among the 49 genotypes for all the characters studied. Accessions IR 78937-B-3-B-B-1 and IR 78937-B-3-B-B-2 had the highest yield with a score of 5374.5 kg/ha and 5305.6 kg/ha respectively. The high yielding genotype IR 78937-B-3-B-B-1 had a yield advantage of 57% and 22.2%, respectively, as compared to standard checks Nerica-4 and Hidasie. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values ranged from 2.5% for panicle length to 49.98% for number of spikelet per panicle. While the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) ranged from 2.4 % for panicle length to 47.6 % for number of spikelet per panicle. Number of tiller per plant (22.47%), number spikelet per panicle (49.98%), thousand seed weight (25.56%) and yield (23.93%) had higher PCV values. The PCV values for flag leaf length (14.79%), flag leaf width (16.12%), and culm length (16.42%) and number of panicle per plant (16.32%) were medium. Flowering cycle (7.81%), maturation cycle (2.9%), and panicle length (2.5%) had lower PCV values. GCV values were low for flowering cycle (7.21%), maturation cycle (1.82%) and panicle length (2.4%); medium for flag leaf length (14.26%), flag leaf width (15.39%), culm length (15.19 %) and number of panicle per plant (15.72%); high for number of tillers per plant (22.18 %), yield (23.07%), thousand seed weight (25.18%) and number of spikelet per panicle (47.60%). The high GCV values of these characters suggest that genetic impact is higher and environmental influence is lower. This study generally had indicated that there was significant genetic variability or divergence among the genotypes. Thus, the improvement program of the upland rice genotypes through direct selection rather than a lengthy crossing program is recommended.

Response of Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Varieties to Different Blended NPSZnB Fertilizer Rates in Haro Limmu District, Western Ethiopia : A Pilot Study

Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] plays a crucial role in achieving food and nutritional security in Ethiopia being predominant staple food. Lack of high yielding varieties suitable to the area and inadequate site-specific blended fertilizers are the major constraints to higher tef productivity. Hence, a field experiment was conducted during 2020 main cropping season to identify high yielding variety and determine economically feasible blended NPSZnB fertilizer rate at Farmers Training Center in Ucha Kebele, Haro Limmu district. Experiment included five different NPSZnB fertilizer rates (0, 50,100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1) and three Tef varieties (Negus, Tesfa and local). Treatments were factorially combined and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results revealed that thousand seed weight of Tef was significantly influenced by main effect of varieties, blended NPSZnB fertilizer rates and their interactions. Panicle length, dry biomass yield, lodging index, grain yield, straw yield and harvest index of Tef were significantly (P<0.001) affected by main effect of blended NPSZnB fertilizer rates and the interactions of the two factors, while the panicle length, dry biomass yield, lodging index and grain yield, straw yield and harvest index of Tef were significantly (P<0.01; 0.05) affected by main effect of varieties respectively. Highest (118.20 cm) plant height, dry biomass yield (9. 64 t ha-1), straw yield (7.02 t ha-1), grain yield (2.62 t ha-1), thousand seed weight (0.42 t ha-1) and harvest index (27.1%) were recorded from Tesfa variety with 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate. Similarly, the highest (7.42 t ha-1), straw yield, dry biomass yield (9.76 t ha-1), grain yield (2.34 t ha-1), thousand seed weight (0.4 g) and panicle length (44.20 cm) were recorded from Tesfa variety with application of 200 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate and the highest total number of tillers (10.1) and effective number of tillers (9.7) were recorded with 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate. Grain yield of Tef showed increment by 91.22% with the application of 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 with Tesfa variety over the control. Highest net profit of ETB 83229.4 with marginal rate of return of 1553.71% was recorded from Tesfa variety with application of 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate. Therefore, farmers of the study area should use Tesfa variety based on the grain yield and net profitability benefits achieved with 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 fertilizer rate to enhance Tef production and productivity.

Effect of Blended NPSZnB Fertiliser Rates on Growth and Yield of Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Varieties in Haro Limmu District

Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is one of the most important cereal crops and predominant staple food in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is constrained by a number of problems, lack of site-specific fertilizer recommendation and high yielding varieties are crucial in the study area. Hence, a field experiment was conducted during 2020 main cropping season to identify most productive variety and determine most economically feasible blended NPSZnB fertilizer rate at Farmers Training Center in Ucha Kebele, Haro Limmu district. The experiment included five different NPSZnB fertilizer rates (0, 50,100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1) and three Tef varieties (Negus, Tesfa and local). The treatments were factorially combined and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Days to 50% heading, days to 90% physiological maturity, plant height and thousand seed weight of Tef were significantly influenced by main effect of varieties, blended NPSZnB fertilizer rates and their interactions. Panicle length, dry biomass yield, lodging index, grain yield, straw yield and harvest index of Tef were significantly (P<0.001) affected by main effect of blended NPSZnB fertilizer rates and the interactions of the two factors, while the panicle length, dry biomass yield, lodging index and grain yield, straw yield and harvest index of Tef were significantly (P<0.01; 0.05) affected by main effect of varieties respectively. Highest (118.20 cm) plant height, dry biomass yield (9. 64 t ha-1), straw yield (7.02 t ha-1), grain yield (2.62 t ha-1), thousand seed weight (0.42 t ha-1) and harvest index (27.1%) were recorded from Tesfa variety with 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate. Similarly, the highest (7.42 t ha-1), straw yield, dry biomass yield (9.76 t ha-1), grain yield (2.34 t ha-1), thousand seed weight (0.4 g) and panicle length (44.20 cm) were recorded from Tesfa variety with application of 200 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate and the highest total number of tillers (10.1) and effective number of tillers (9.7) were recorded with 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate. Grain yield of Tef showed increment by 91.22 % with the application of 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 with Tesfa variety over the control. Highest net profit of ETB 83229.4 with marginal rate of return of 1553.71% was recorded from Tesfa variety with application of 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 blended fertilizer rate. Therefore, farmers of the study area should use Tesfa variety based on the grain yield and net profitability benefits achieved with 150 kg NPSZnB ha-1 fertilizer rate to enhance Tef production and productivity. However, this experiment was conducted only for a single season and site, further study has to be done under different seasons and agro-ecologies to make more reliable recommendations.