Perilla is a self-fertilizing crop widely used in East Asia for its seeds and leaves. Of the two varieties of Perilla, P. frutescens var. frutescens has long been used as a folk plant in South Korea. The seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which offer significant health benefits, making them popular for use in seed oil or as a spice. The leaves, with their high perilla ketone content and unique aroma, are used as leafy vegetables and spices. The morphological characteristics of crops are complex for various reasons, such as environment factors, multiplicity, etc. To better understand the morphological variations among three types of Perilla collected from three regions of South Korea, 7 qualitative traits and 10 quantitative traits were investigated using 500 Perilla accessions. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the first two components together explained 52.2% of the overall variation. The 500 Perilla accessions clearly distinguished cultivated var. frutescens from weedy var. crispa and also revealed differences between cultivated and weedy types of var. frutescens. Significant morphological differences were observed among the three types of Perilla, especially in seed and plant characteristics. When the PCA results were analysed by region, regional differences were observed for all three types of Perilla. Therefore, this study provides a better understanding of the morphological and geographical differences in Perilla grown and naturally occurring in South Korea, which will aid research on crop evolution and differentiation, as well as Perilla breeding programmes.

Avocado is a delicious fruit crop having great economic importance. Understanding the extent of variability present in the existing germplasm is important to identify genotypes with specific traits and their utilization in crop improvement. The information on genetic variability with respect to morphological and biochemical traits in Indian avocados is limited and as it has hindered genetic improvement of the crop. In the current study, 83 avocado accessions from different regions of India were assessed for important 17 morphological and 8 biochemical traits. The results showed the existence of wide variability for traits such as fruit weight (75.88–934.12 g), pulp weight (48.08–736.19 g), seed weight (6.37–32.62 g), FRAP activity (27.65–119.81 mg AEAC/100 g), total carotenoids (0.96–7.17 mg/100 g), oil content (4.91–25.49%) and crude fibre (6.85–20.75%) in the studied accessions. The first three components of principal component analysis explained 54.79 per cent of total variance. Traits such as fruit weight, pulp weight, seed weight, moisture and oil content contributed more significantly towards total variance compared to other traits. The dendrogram constructed based on Euclidean distance wards minimum variance method divided 83 accessions into two major groups and nine sub clusters suggesting wide variability in the accessions with respect to studied traits. In this study, superior accessions for important traits such as fruit size (PA-102, PA-012), high pulp recovery (PA-036, PA-082,), thick peel (PA-084, PA-043, PA-011, PA-008), high carotenoids (PA-026, PA-096) and high oil content (PA-044, PA-043, PA-046, PA-045) were identified which have potential utility in further crop improvement programmes.

Seed chemical composition and oxidation after long-term storage may affect seed longevity, seed germination and seedling normality after planting. By screening the entire USDA cultivated peanut germplasm collection for fatty acid composition, we identified the -01 inventory of accession PI 268941 with the following characteristics: (a) two distinct seed fatty acid profiles (high oleate 78.9% and normal oleate 48.19%); (b) two FAD2B genotypes (with and without a functional point mutation of 435DelT within the FAD2B gene); and (c) uniform plant morphology and seed-coat color. This inventory had been stored at −18°C within the same sealed aluminum bag for 30 years and was acquired to investigate the relationship between seed chemical composition and seed performance after planting using individual seed analysis. Our results indicated that (1) the spontaneous point-functional mutation 435T deletion of FAD2B within the accession led to the high and normal oleate seeds; (2) additional unidentified compounds observed during analysis may be due to a higher oxidation rate in normal oleate seeds than in high oleate seeds; (3) the high oleate seeds had significantly higher rates of seed germination and seedling normality than the normal oleate seeds; and (4) the seedling performance highly and significantly correlated with fatty acid composition and extra peaks. Our results suggest that high oleic acid significantly extends the viability of long-term stored peanut seeds. The information revealed in this study will be useful for germplasm preservation as well as the selection of seeds for planting and agricultural production based on seed fatty acid composition and storage length.

Waterlogging (WL) stress drastically impacts sesame crops, making them highly susceptible by hindering growth and development. Hence, identifying and characterizing the promising trait is necessary to conserve germplasm exploitation during WL stress conditions. The current study emphasized comprehensively screening 148 accessions by treating 48 hours of WL stress in sesame crops. In addition, the trait association and morphological characteristics were attributed to identify tolerant and susceptible germplasm, which can be further utilized in crop improvement and breeding programmes. Therefore, the present study screened the genotypes by assessing morphological traits, including shoot height (SH), root length (RL), SPAD measurements and branches per plant. The observation reveals that RL, SH and SPAD significantly varied in sesame accessions. Hence, accession EC377024 and IC129289 showed highly tolerant and susceptible behaviour. The statistical analysis, including G × E interactions, Pearson’s correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA), supports the selected trait that can be used to screen the WL susceptible crops. The genotypes identified in this study have the potential to aid in sesame crop improvement.

Exploration expeditions were conducted for 2 consecutive years in the subtropical region of North India to collect the untapped genetic diversity of Bael. A total of 15 accessions having unique traits of horticultural importance were collected and conserved in the field gene bank. Conserved germplasm was characterized for 3 consecutive years. Considerable variability was found in the morphological characters and biochemical traits. Fruit length ranged from 10.15 to 17. 68 cm, fruit circumference varied from 33.45 to 56.32 cm and fruit weight varied from 0.71 to 2.48 kg. Shell thickness was found to vary from 2.11 to 3.62 mm, whereas shell weight varied from 230 to 580 g/fruit. Number of seed sacs per fruit was found to vary from 11.17 to 15.72 and number of seeds per fruit varied from 68.00 to 113.17. Minimum seed weight was 7.04 g/fruit, whereas maximum 14.55 g/fruit. Ample variability was found in fruit yield of collected germplasm which ranged from 18.85 to 39.26 kg per plant at 16–18 years of age. Distinctive variability in biochemical traits was also found. Total soluble solids in fruit pulp were 34.92–41.13% Brix, total sugars 11.49–22.16%, acidity 0.36–0.53%, vitamin ‘C’ 9.89–17.20 mg/100 g, total carotenoids 1.43–2.40 mg/100 g and total tannins 2.50–3.58%. Available genetic diversity may be utilized for crop improvement programme.

Pteridium aquilinum, commonly known as bracken, is a fern species distributed in temperate and subtropical regions. In Iran, it primarily grows in isolated populations in the northern regions, and its genetic structure, gene flow and population genetics are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate gene flow and genetic diversity in 11 geographical populations of P. aquilinum in Iran for the first time. A total of 133 plants from different populations were examined, and both morphological and genetic diversity were assessed using start codon targeted (SCoT) molecular markers. Results showed genetic and morphological admixture within populations, likely due to the high mobility of dispersal units in this species. Significant genetic differences were found among populations, but a high degree of genetic variability was observed within individual populations. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between geographical and genetic distances, indicating gene flow between populations. The assignment test revealed genetic admixture among plants from different populations, and Gst analysis of SCoT loci yielded Nm = 0.95, confirming gene flow among the populations. Overall, this study demonstrates that the Iranian populations of P. aquilinum maintain substantial gene flow, which may contribute to the long-term survival and adaptability of this species in the region.

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are significant and specialized metabolites found in Brassicas that have crucial roles in both human and plant defence. The present study investigated sinigrin, progoitrin and glucoerucin in Indian cauliflower genotypes using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For this, 37 genotypes of cauliflower from early (14), mid-early (6), mid-late (15) and late (2) maturity groups along with broccoli (two) and Sicilian purple (one) were evaluated in randomized block design during 2019–20 and 2020–21. Glucoerucin was predominant in most of the cauliflower genotypes (30), followed by sinigrin (5) and progoitrin (2). It was also prominent in broccoli genotypes. Progoitrin was the principal GLS in Sicilian Purple ‘PC-1 (2.430 μmol/g). In cauliflower, the glucoerucin, progoitrin and sinigrin were ranged from 0.067 to 7.248 μmol/g, 0.001 to 0.849 μmol/g and 0.001 to 3.310 μmol/g, respectively. Pusa Deepali (early), Pusa Sharad (mid-early) and Pusa Shukti (mid-late) were found to be ‘low progoitrin-high glucoerucin’ varieties in their respective groups. In the late group, Pusa Snowball Kt-25 had low progoitrin. Glucoerucin and sinigrin were highest in the mid-early group. Progoitrin was highest in genotypes harvested in the first fortnight of November and the second fortnight of February, whereas sinigrin and glucoerucin were maximum in the genotypes harvested during the second fortnight of November. The K-means clustering identified four clusters, and principal component analysis revealed two principal components. The information on three GLSs in Indian cauliflower will be useful for breeding varieties with desirable GSL profiles for public health and plant defence.

This study investigates the potential of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (aonla) for cultivation across diverse soil types, with a particular focus on alkaline soils, as part of broader efforts to enhance biodiversity, promote sustainable agriculture and improve climate resilience. This experiment was focused on identifying and characterizing aonla accessions for alkaline conditions. Among the 11 genotypes characterized; CISH-A-33 and CISH-A-31 exhibited superior fruit yield per plant (53.99 ± 1.97 and 44.17 ± 0.91 kg/tree, respectively), indicating better adaptability to alkaline conditions. Additionally, CISH-A-33 genotypes showed higher content of biochemical traits such as total soluble solids (TSS) (9.70 ± 0.10°B), acidity (3.25 ± 0.10%), ascorbic acid (504.65 ± 1.12 mg/100 g), total sugar (8.21 ± 0.05%), reducing sugar (3.85 ± 0.01%), phenol (1.41 ± 0.01 g/100g GAE) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (233.74 ± 1.59 mg/g) followed by CISH-A-31. A correlation study between morphological and biochemical traits indicated that fruit weight was negatively correlated with TSS, ascorbic acid, total sugar and FRAP, but strongly positively correlated with yield, fruit diameter, acidity, reducing sugar and polyphenol content. TSS, total sugar and FRAP had a negative correlation with yield, whereas ascorbic acid, reducing sugar and polyphenols had a favourable correlation. Two principal components (PCs) with differing descriptive capacities were identified by principal component analysis; PC-1 explained 65.89% of the overall variability, while PC-2 explained 29.67%. These promising genotypes (CISH-A-33 and CISH-A-31) hold potential for crop genetic enhancement, benefiting alkaline soils not only in sub-tropical regions of India but also in other similar environments. This research identifies promising aonla accessions adaptable to alkaline soils, offering prospects for breeding climate-resilient varieties with enhanced productivity and fruit quality.

Distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) studies are essential components of assessment and registration processes for plant varieties, including those within the Morus alba species, commonly known as white mulberry. M. alba L. holds a unique place in agriculture sciences due to its historical significance in silk production and its cultivation for its edible fruits. This study provides an overview of DUS studies in M. alba carried out in the Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (Himachal Pradesh) India, highlighting the critical features and characteristics evaluated to distinguish between different cultivars. It explores the factors contributing to uniformity and the stability of these characteristics over time, emphasizing the importance of these studies in guiding breeding programmes, supporting agricultural practices and preserving the diversity within this species. The study includes DUS characterization of M. alba germplasm based on 3 qualitative, 11 pseudo-qualitative and 11 quantitative characteristics. DUS studies play a pivotal role in ensuring the accuracy of cultivar identification, thus facilitating the sustainable cultivation and conservation of M. alba, a species with deep-rooted cultural and economic significance. It is concluded that many varieties with distinct and distinguishable characteristics and better economic and genetic values can be registered for their protection under the PPV&FR Act, 2001 and can be used in breeding programmes.

Some Iranian local sainfoin landraces were studied to evaluate morphologic diversity and some related parameters according to 31 characteristics. Results indicated remarkable diversity for all characteristics whereas the phenotypic and genotypic CV (coefficient of variation) amounts were high for most of the measured characteristics. The magnitudes of heritability and genetic gain showed good potential in all of the sainfoin landraces. Also, the genetic advance as a mean per cent (breeding potential) for four characteristics was low while for 11 characteristics like thousand seed weight was moderate whereas for the other 16 remaining characteristics like total fresh and dry yield as well as seed yield was high, so the genetic advance of most characteristics was high and moderate and they can be improved by suitable selection strategy. Sainfoin landraces were categorized into four clusters via Wilks' lambda in both years whereas cluster-I with 10 common landraces at both years were early flowering and maturing while the seven common landraces of cluster-II and four common landraces of cluster-III indicated moderate values for most of sainfoin's traits. The three common landraces of cluster-IV (G14 from Azna, G19 from Kahlaran, and G25 from Saqqez) indicated higher values for most characteristics of sainfoin, and can be advised for releasing as the superior cultivars or used in crossbreeding programmes for generating the new cultivars with high-yield performance as well as high quality.

In this study, 170 neem (Azadirachta indica) germplasm accessions were characterized for morphological, yield and yield-related traits to assess their genetic variability and potential for genetic improvement. This comprehensive investigation revealed significant differences in mean performance across the accessions, providing a wide dataset that offers valuable insights into the genetic diversity of neem. Significant phenotypic variability was observed across all traits, including plant height (PHT), seed weight (SEW), kernel weight (KEW) and oil content percentage (OIP). The high variability in diameter at breast height (DBH) and oil content across the germplasm accessions panel highlights the potential for selecting superior genotypes for genetic improvement. Strong positive associations between DBH, seed weight, kernel weight and oil content were identified, indicating that these traits can be critical for selecting high-yielding genotypes. Euclidean distance-based clustering analysis grouped the accessions into four distinct clusters, with Cluster I comprising genotypes with high oil and kernel yields. Principal component analysis corroborated the clustering patterns and identified variables with strong associations, which could guide future breeding programmes. The superior accessions identified, such as VKAF-3, VKAF-9, VKAF-11, VKAF-13, VKAF-139, VKAF-85 and VKAF-20, exhibited promising traits for genetic improvement and sustainability in neem production. Further multi-location and multi-season evaluations are recommended to ensure the stability and adaptability of these promising germplasm accessions. This research underscores the importance of leveraging genetic diversity to enhance neem's economic potential and contribute to sustainable development.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main staples in the Peruvian Andes. Phenotypic diversity is extremely high in terms of plant morphology, grain colour, grain size and uses. However, little is known about the genetic component of the Peruvian maize. Genotyping-by-sequencing was used, for the first time, to infer the genetic diversity and population structure of 25 accessions of maize collected from two ecoregions of the departments of the Peruvian highlands, Cajamarca and Huancavelica, to provide a basis for the conservation and breeding of this crop genetic resource. A total of 29,332 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were identified along all 10 chromosomes of maize. STRUCTURE analysis revealed two clusters (open-pollinated cultivars and landraces). Principal coordinate analysis and our dendrogram showed that these accessions of Peruvian maize do not group based on their geographic origin but on their improvement status, however, this is weakly supported. Average genetic diversity was very high (0.35). Analysis of molecular variance showed a reduced variation between populations (2.85%) and indicated that variability within populations is 97.15%. The lowest population divergence was zero for populations of Colcabamba versus Pichos and Daniel Hernandez versus Colcabamba and the highest population divergence (0.041) was observed for population Cajamarca versus Santiago de Tucuma. As expected, FIS values were positive. Additional samples from other Andean and west coast Peruvian localities are needed to provide a better understanding of the genetic components of this important crop aiming to develop a modern breeding programme of maize in Peru.

The present study aimed to utilize maize landraces from the North Eastern Hill Region (NEHR) of India for hybrid development, addressing the absence of established heterotic groups for maize in this region. Eighty inbreds derived from diverse local landraces were test-crossed to two testers LM-13 and LM-14. The 160 testcrosses were evaluated over two seasons using an alpha lattice design. Heterotic grouping studies utilizing BLUP values, included analyses of specific combining ability (SCA), specific and general combining ability (HSGCA), and GCA of multiple traits (HGCAMT). Additionally, 34 SSR markers were employed to group the inbreds based on genetic distance (SSR_GD). Breeding efficiency tests indicated that the conventional SCA and HSGCA methods were the most effective for heterotic grouping, enabling classification of the overlapping inbreds into the corresponding tester groups. Validation involving 10 inbreds – 5 from each tester group crossed in a full diallel fashion – revealed that gene action was predominantly non-additive, a prerequisite for heterosis breeding. The highest-performing hybrids exhibited better parent heterosis (BPH) ranging from 75 to 384%, demonstrating significant yield advantages. These hybrids combined moderately divergent parents with contrasting female and male GCA values and BPH was significantly associated with SCA effects, providing predictive insights for optimizing hybrid development. The findings of this study highlight the potential of NEHR germplasm for developing high-yielding hybrids tailored to local conditions. These hybrids would particularly benefit smallholding farmers practicing shifting cultivation by enabling cost-effective production and providing economic benefits.

The genetic diversity of Cyclanthera pedata was assessed through agro-morphological, mineral composition and biochemical traits. Field surveys across India documented its wide ecological distribution (18.66°–31.02°N, 78.05°–83.27°E, 131–3665 m AMSL) in Andhra Pradesh and northwest Himalayan region. Field evaluations were conducted during Kharif 2021 and 2022 at ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora (1250 m AMSL). Significant genotypic variation was observed in fruit yield (195–1505 g/plant), fruit numbers (36–364 per plant), chlorophyll content (0.49–2.61 μg/g) and antioxidant activities (16.02–39.04 mM Trolox equivalent/g DW). Notable genotypes included RK-40 (highest yield of 1505 g/plant), RK-01 (early flowering) and RK-33 (early fruiting). High coefficients of variation (>23%) were noted in total chlorophyll, carotenoids and FRAP values. Genotype RK-42 excelled in antioxidant activities and carotenoids. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped the germplasm into four clusters based on critical traits independent of geographic origin. In contrast, principal component analysis identified traits like polyphenols, antioxidants, seed weight and fruit yield as significant contributors to phenotypic variation. The biplot revealed relationships between traits, such as positive correlations between fruit yield, fruit and pulp weight, and biochemical traits like DPPH and ABTS. Genotypes such as IC 430006, IC 356007, IC 393261, IC 393308, UKAl 1 and IC 361297 display distinct profiles. These findings highlight critical traits for breeding and conservation efforts, particularly for enhancing fruit yield and biochemical attributes in C. pedata germplasm.

African yam bean (AYB) is an underutilized legume with significant potential for food security in sub-Saharan Africa, yet limited research exists on optimizing its seed yield through selective breeding. In this study, the seed yield (SY) performance and relative importance of some yield-related traits on SY in AYB were assessed. One hundred and ninety-six accessions of AYB were evaluated for 2 years in three agro-ecologies of Nigeria. The experimental design was a 14 × 14 lattice design with three replicates. Data were recorded on SY and 13 SY-related traits. Positive significant genotypic correlations were found between SY and 11 of these traits. Pod length (PL) had a negative significant relationship (rg = −0.44**) with SY. Path coefficient analysis identified days to maturity (DM), pod weight (PW), shelling percentage (SP), number of seeds per pod (NSPD), 100-seed weight (HSW) and seed thickness (ST) as traits with positive direct effects on SY. The additive main effect and multiplicative interaction analysis revealed highly significant accession, environment, accession × environment interaction and interaction principal components effects for SY. Accessions TSs-119, TSs-101, 138A, TSs-4, TSs-157A and TSs-61 were identified as superior and stable, and should be considered for further breeding purposes. Selection criteria for improved SY in AYB should include DM, PW, SP, NSPD, HSW and ST. The identified stable, high-yielding accessions and key yield-related traits provide a framework for accelerating AYB improvement across diverse agro-ecologies.