Genetic diversity is a valuable asset for crop improvement. In this study, a total of 50 rice genotypes were screened for salinity tolerance at the reproductive stage using gravel-based hydroponics, soil, controlled mini-field and field methods. Different morpho-agronomic, physiological markers and tolerance indices were used to classify tolerant and susceptible genotypes. Our results showed high genetic variability in response of rice genotypes to salinity using different screening methods. The significant effect (P < 0.01) of salinity include increased Na+ sequestration in the flag leaf, increased unfilled grains (except for the field method) and reduced pollen fertility, total yield, panicle length and the average number of filled grains per panicle. Plant height (except for the soil method) and K+ ion concentration in the flag leaf were not significantly affected by salinity (P > 0.05). Genetic diversity analysis indicated that the germplasm evaluated exhibits moderate diversity (PIC ${\overline{\bf X}}$ = 0.2085). Cluster analysis using single nucleotide polymorphisms showed that the genetic make-up of rice germplasm somehow did not necessarily indicate their over-all tolerance or susceptibility to salinity. This study proved that the controlled mini-field method is the most advantageous among the screening methods while geometric mean productivity, stress tolerance index and yield index are the tolerance indices that can be classified as better predictors of salinity tolerance considering the yield potentials of the genotypes. The genotypes Nona Bokra and Mushkan 41 can be used for breeding in the future through low Na+:K+ ratio while Damodar and Bhura Rata 4-10 for breeding salt-tolerant cultivars with higher yield potentials.

Cultivated pigeonpea has a narrow genetic base. Wild relatives play an important role in the efforts to broaden its genetic base. In this report, we present a successful wide-cross between the cultivated pigeonpea and Cajanus lanceolatus, a wild relative from the secondary gene pool, native to Australia, with desirable traits such as frost and drought resistance. A range of F1 progeny were obtained and the resultant F1 hybrid plants set mature pods and seeds. The hybrids had intermediate morphology, sharing the traits of both the parents. All the F1 hybrids flowered profusely. Some of the hybrids were completely male sterile and some were partially fertile with pollen fertility ranging from 35 to 50 %. Meiotic analysis of the fertile F1 hybrids revealed a high degree of meiotic chromosome pairing between the two parental genomes. Meiotic analysis of the sterile F1 hybrids revealed that the breakdown of microsporogenesis occurred at the post-meiotic stage after the formation of tetrads. Fertile plants formed regular bivalents with normal disjunction, except for occasional asynchrony at meiotic II division.