In existing experiment, eighteen crosses along with nine parents were evaluated for genetic parameter and association study for identification yield contributing traits. The analysis of variance was showed that the huge amount of variability is present between parents and their hybrids for all traits. The PCV is greater than GCV revealing the little influence the environment on character expression (ECV) for most of the traits except hundred grain weight (1.11) and grain yield (1.23). The high magnitudes of phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation were recorded for the traits viz., grain yield per plant (69.94% and 71.52%), effective tillers (68.15% and 68.36%), total tillers (58.08% and 58.86%) and flag leaf width (29.30% and 29.42%). The high value of heritability along with high genetic advance were recorded for days to 50% flowering, flag leaf length, plant height, effective tillers, grain yield, panicle length and flag leaf width. Generally, phenotypic correlations are found higher than corresponding phenotypic and environmental correlation owing to modified cause of environment traits by which associated at genetic level. Grain yield per plant exhibited highly significant and positively associated with tiller per plant at genotypic (0.599), phenotypic (0.606) and environmental (0.646) level, effective tiller per plant at genotypic (0.730), phenotypic (0.734) and environmental (0.824) level. Decorticated grain breadth was found positive and significant correlation at environmental (0.620) level at 1% level of probability. This indicates that the relative utility of these traits for selection with respect to grain yield.

In the present study, draughtability and related biochemical parameters were estimated in two draught breeds of cattle viz., Bargur and Kangayam. The mean creatine kinase level in Bargur and Kangayam cattle were estimated as 128.00 ± 6.34 and 94.41 ± 3.84 units per litre respectively. The other parameter, lactic acid level averaged 30.86 ± 3.51 mg/dL in Bargur and 58.53 ± 4.11 mg/dL in Kangayam. The levels of creatine kinase and lactic acid were found to differ highly significantly (P<0.01) between Bargur and Kangayam. In Bargur, gender of the animal had significant (P<0.05) effect on the level of serum lactic acid. The means for draughtability parameters like speed and stride length of Kangayam cattle were 1.31 ± 0.03 m/s and 0.77 ± 0.01 m respectively. The respiration rate averaged 57.37 per minute. The level of bovine IGF1 in serum was 3.41 ± 0.30 ng/ml in Burgur and 3.11 ± 0.16 in Kangayam cattle. It was found that Kangayam cattle are superior and better adapted to all agricultural operations; while the medium-built Bargur is suitable for hilly areas.

Dalbergia latifolia and Lagerstroemia lanceolata are two economically important and expensive timber species of tropical countries (India, Indonesia and Madagascar, Burma) are exploited. An efficient and on site detection and legal confirmation of these timbers is possible using molecular methods, but molecular tools have not been employed due to lack of knowledge of DNA extraction and species specific identification. Purified genomic DNA, required for many applications in molecular genetics is frequently more difficult to obtain from trees than most other crop or annual plants. Here we describe the essential steps of a rapid DNA isolation protocol that can be used for diverse timber species, which contains huge amount of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, gummy polysaccharides, terpenes and quinones. This modified DNA extraction protocol is applicable for fresh and mature dried leaf samples. This customized procedure has improved the efficiency of genomic DNA by enhancing the yield as well as purity of DNA that would facilitate efficient characterization and validation of these timber species. The isolated DNA has been proved to be acquiescent to PCR amplification though ISSR and SSR primers.

Immunoglobulin E has a prominent role in allergic reactions specially those launched against parasites. It has been thought that IgE dependent immune response has been evolved to target specifically metazoan parasites that are too large for phagocytosis. In the current manuscript, we explored the possibility of association between polymorphism at 5′ UTR of IgE gene and faecal egg count in case of natural exposure to Haemonchus contortus in Rohilkhandi goat breed. We studied the polymorphism by means of direct sequencing and made four haplotypes. Among these, the haplotype B was having significantly highest FEC value (575.00 ± 450.00 epg) at P< 0.05.

Eight parental genotypes along with their 28 F1 hybrids and 28 F2 generations of wheat were evaluated to study the combining ability in a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2016-17 at SKUAST-Jammu, India. Mean sum of squares due to GCA and SCA were found to be highly significant for all the traits studied in both generations except number of effective tillers per plant in F2 generation for GCA, indicating that both additive and non-additive genes were controlling these traits. The magnitude of SCA variance were greater than GCA variance for most of the traits in both the generations indicated that non-additive type of gene effects were more pronounced than those of additive gene effect showed significant GCA effects for grain yield per plant. In F1 generation three crosses with both parent as poor combiners; five crosses with one parent as good combiner and one cross with both parent as good combiners and in F2 generation six crosses with both parent as poor combiners; four crosses with one parent as good combiner and one cross with both parent as good combiners were found to be desirable crosses for grain yield per plant and biochemical traits.

Eggplant or brinjal [Solanum melongena L.] is the most popular and widely cultivated vegetable crop in the central, Southern and Southeast Asia and in some African countries. In the present investigation 55 genotypes were collected and evaluated at the Research Farm of Department of Biotechnology and Crop Improvement during Khari season of 2015 to assess genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and genetic diversity. Estimates of phenotypic coefficients of variability (PCV) and genotypic coefficients of variability (GCV) ranged for average fruit weight (18.00- 176.70) followed by plant spread (51.70-87.60) respectively. PCV were slightly higher than the corresponding GCV and the difference was very low for majority of the characters, suggesting that prevalence of more of genetic effects than environment in their expression. Heritability in broad sense (h2), genetic advance (GA) and genetic advance as percentage of mean (GAM) ranged between 19-79-100%, 0.55-70.63, 23.17- 104.14 % respectively. High GCV, PCV, heritability coupled with high genetic advance indicating more of genetic inheritance and selection is effective. The genotypes CBB-23 (cluster XIV), A2 (cluster XIII), CBB-2 (cluster XII), CBB-50, CBB-49, A11, CBB-43, CBB-52 and CBB-64 (cluster XI) showed high genetic diversity giving room to improvement through hybridization between these genotypes. Therefore, direct selection helps in selecting good genotypes with high growth, yield and quality for brinjal hybrids.

Momordica cymbalaria is one of the nutritious vegetable which is underexploited. In Kannada language it is known by the name Karchikai, in Tamil as Athalakai, in Telugu as Kasarakai and in Marathi as Kadavanchi. It is an underutilized vegetable crop of cucurbitaceae family. Fruits of this crop are small of 2-3cm in length green colour with high neutraceutical values. These fruits are used as vegetable crop in southern parts of India. Iron, Phosphorus, Calcium & Potassium content were high in fruits compared to other species. It also has an antiallergic, antidiabetic, antiulcer, antimicrobial and hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, cardio protective, and hepatoprotective activity. Studies were lacking with respect to improvement aspects. This is the first characterization study conducted in this crop other than its neutraceutical values. Thirteen ecotypes of Momordica cymbalaraia were collected from different areas of Karnataka to estimate the variability parameters. Experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design in two replications. Observations were recorded for nine yield parameters and variability parameters were estimated. Highly significant differences were recorded for all traits except fruit length among the thirteen treatments. The mean and range values for nine quantitative traits disclose the presence of variability among the germplasm. High range value was reported for number of male & female flowers, fruits per plant and yield per plant which indicates the existence of variation in the collected germplasm. High GCV & PCV values indicates that these traits are less influenced by environmental factors. High Heritability coupled with high GAM was reported for all traits except fruit length which was reported as moderate. The present study confirms the presence of genetic variability among the germplasm from different locations.