Analysis of variance mean sum of square due to genotypes were significant for all the traits studied. These present findings indicated that epistasis plays an important role in the inheritance of different characters in Indian mustard. Therefore, the epitasis interaction effects cannot be ignored, and the genetic model employed must account for the estimation of inter allelic interactions. Otherwise, the estimates are liable to biased and misleading. Triple test cross analysis also revealed the significant contribution of additive and dominance variation for characters under study. Predominance of non-fixable genetic effect including epistatic effects indicated the perceptible advantage of heterozygosity for enhanced expression of siliqua on main shoot, siliqua length, seed/siliqua and seed yield. Analysis of variance indicated significant values of total epistasis for all the traits except number of secondary branches. The homogeneity of the interactions of 2 variances (i + block and j + l x block) was non-significant for all the traits suggesting homogeneity of interaction variances. The partitioning of epistasis into i type (additive x additive) and j + l type (additive x dominance and dominance x dominance) epistasis indicated the involvement of both type of epistasis for days to flowering, days to maturity and seed yield.

The combining ability and heterosis studies using line x tester (15 lines and 4 testers) in sesame revealed the importance of both additive as well as non-additive gene effects in the inheritance, although preponderance of additive type of gene action in the inheritance of days to flowering, capsule bearing length, seed per capsule and oil content. Preponderance of non-additive gene action were noted for days to maturity, plant height, branches per plant, capsule per plant, capsule length, 1000 seed weight and seed yield per plant. The parents RT-54, HT-1, CST-783, TNAU-65 andRT-49 were better general combiners for seed yield and its components traits. The parents CST-783, RT-127, and RT-49 were good general combiners for high oil content. The highest desirable heterosis expression over standard check were observed for grain yield (425%) followed by seed per capsule (159%), capsules per plant (150%), capsule bearing length (64%), branches per plant (59%) and days to earliness (6%).

Tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta D reared in tropical regions of the country and produce commercial tasar cocoons, which experiences extreme thermal condition during its life cycle. To perceive the thermo-tolerant characters of A. mylitta, in the present study, the tasar cocoons with live pupae were exposed/treated with high temperature in three different ranges 40-45°C, 46-50°C and 50-55°C in different time intervals. The treated pupae were collected, and the hemolymph and midgut tissues were examined for the changes in the protein and catalase activity through quantitative assay and electrophoresis. The experiment reveals a positive correlation of temperature and the protein concentration in the hemolymph and fatbody. Also, Catalase activity showed higher in thermal stress conditions compared to the control. The acute stress (51-55°C) causes significant decrease in Catalase activity in the fat body of both males and female pupa. There are significant changes were observed in the electrophoretic protein profile with additional protein bands of 40 kDa and 70 kDa presumed as heat shock related proteins. Similarly, additional bands CAT3 & CAT4 compared to control samples were observed in the catalase profile. The physiological changes observed in the tasar silkworm on high temperature treatment may be used as an indicator to identify the high temperature tolerant characters in the tropical tasar silkworms

This study reports the extent of genetic variability in elite sugarcane clones and varieties for cane yield components, quality and physiological traits as affected by water stress conditions. High PCV was recorded for specific leaf weight (g) under both the environments while high GCV for this trait was recorded under water stress (E2) only. For quality traits, high PCV and GCV was recorded for CCS (t/ha) under both normal (E1) as well as water stress (E2) environments. High heritability values for major economic traits like cane yield, commercial cane sugar tons per hectare, number of shoots thousand per hectare, brix (%) and pol percentage at 10 months and commercial cane sugar (%) under water stress (E2) conditions indicates that substantial improvement can be expected by giving emphasis on the selection of these traits under water stress conditions. In this study environmental influence on the expression of different traits was observed as indicated by the differences in parameters of variability. Genetic advance (GA) indicated for traits; cane yield, CCS (t/ha) and single cane weight under both the environments (E1 and E2) were having higher values and improvement can be expected by practicing selection for these traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance recorded for number of shoots at 120 days (000/ha), cane yield (t/ha), CCS (t/ha) under water stress (E2) environment indicated that direct selection of these traits under water stress conditions could be effective. Moderate values of h2 and GA for traits like relative water content (%) at 60 and 120 days, chlorophyll content and some quality traits indicates that direct selection could not be much effective for these traits.

Vitamin A is one of the essential nutrients for normal functioning and growth in our body. Biofortification of vitamin A in the crop (Maize) is an economical way to overcome vitamin A deficiency. The crtRB1 is an important gene in the carotenoid pathway which increases β-carotene accumulation in maize. Selecting the lines having favourable allele is a cost-effective method alternative to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the present study, we screened hundred maize lines of Manipur derived from CAU-87 using a crtRB1 3’TE gene-specific marker and found that three lines viz., CAU-87-9, CAU-87-12, CAU-87-28 contained the favourable allele which can be utilized for maize improvement programme.