To study the gene action and fertility restoration behavior of tropical japonica/indica and indica derived advanced breeding lines, seven testers comprised of new plant type i.e., NPT 2-2-694-1, NPT 9, NPT 80-1 and elite testers i.e., ET 1-12, ET 1-13, TOX 981-11-2-3 and R 1244-1246-1-605-1 along with three CMS lines i.e., APMS 6 A, CRMS 31 A and IR 79156 A and their generated 21 F1 crosses were evaluated for yield and yield attributing traits in a randomized complete block design during (RCBD) wet season 2010. The phenotypic quantitative recorded data was undertaken as per L x T analysis. Under the genetic analysis found all the traits was registered the preponderance of positive non-additive gene action whereas, negative for flag leaf length. All the seven testers exhibited either minor or additive cytoplasmic gene action which influenced the fertility restoration behavior of different combinations of the same pollen parent. The probability of the potential restorer combination (47.76%) was more followed by partial restorers (28.57%), potential maintainers (19.04%) and partial maintainer (4%). Probability of high x high allelic reaction was more in potential restorer combinations (70.00%) followed by partial restorers (16.67%), potential maintainers (0%) and partial maintainer (0.0%). The additive x additive reaction was found for the fertility restoration in 70% restorer combination.

Melia dubia Cav. (Family: Meliaceae) is a deciduous tree species native to India. It is an important plantation species with short rotation and multipurpose uses, highly valued as a pulpwood and plywood. Genetic variation was assessed in eleven natural populations and seven plantations across eight districts of Karnataka comprising 232 samples through 15 ISSR markers. At species level, genetic diversity estimates viz., Percentage polymorphism (94.6), percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) (98.8), observed number of alleles (Na=1.98), effective number of alleles (Ne= 1.59), Neis gene diversity (H) (0.34±0.15) and Shannons information index (I) (0.51±0.19) were found to be high. In individual populations H ranged from 0.10±0.19 to 0.32±0.18 and I ranged from 0.15±0.26 to 0.47±0.25. Among different natural populations, Bhadravati exhibited the highest level of variability while in plantations Hunsur had maximum variability. Analysis of Molecular Variance showed that much of the genetic variation resided within the populations (68%) than among populations. The dendrogram obtained by using Unweighted Pair- Group method with Arithmetic average did not reflect geographical sub clustering of genetic diversity except for few populations. Based on the genetic variability found, superior seed sources can be identified and tree improvement strategies could be developed for conservation and further improvement of the species.

Eighteen eucalypt clones were studied for growth and wood anatomical and physical properties at four years age. The analyzed data was used for further estimation of genetic parameters for growth and wood anatomical properties. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation values were in the range of low to medium (GCV =4.4 to 39.3%; PCV=7.8 to 49.5 %). Tree height, diameter, volume, biomass, basic density, fibre cell wall thickness and vessel density recorded higher heritability values i.e., 59.98%, 51.18%, 63.08, 59.67%, 51.94%, 51.64% and 51.73 %, respectively. Volume, total biomass and carbon content recorded about 60 per cent genetic gain.

Stem lodging risk is the major limiting factor for rice productivity in coastal areas. Selection of lodging resistant lines in early generation is a herculean task as it is influenced by structural and weather parameters. Present study aimed to study genetics and to validate markers linked to lodging resistant loci using F2 and F3 lines of highly susceptible mega rice variety Swarna (MTU 7029) and elite lodging resistant lines II 110-9-1-1-1-1 and MTU 1121. Studies on genetics of lodging resistance indicated modified epistatic dihybrid ratio of 9:7 in both crosses for lodging susceptible and resistant lines revealing complementary epistatic interactions of lodging resistant loci. RM 20557 and RM 5509 were found to be associated with percent of lodging, culm strength and culm diameter in F2 of MTU 7029/II 110-9-1-1-1-1. While in another cross MTU 7029/MTU 1121, RM 6933 was found to be linked with culm strength and culm diameter. Identified markers linked to lodging resistant traits were confirmed by genotyping and phenotyping of F3 families, back crosses and markers RM 20557 and RM 5509 were found to be associated with lodging resistance related traits even in other genetic back grounds. Adoption of marker assisted selection would help in fixing favorable alleles of lodging resistant loci as epistatic gene interactions were involved in both the crosses.

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii is a commercially important bamboo species of India, experiencing population depletion due to heavy extraction from natural forests. The present study has been taken up to generate the basic knowledge of the genetic diversity of the natural stands of D. hamiltonii along altitudinal gradient. Seventeen polymorphic markers developed in other bamboo species were validated in D. hamiltonii and used for genotyping the populations of different altitudinal class (low = 100m, medium = 600m and high = 1200m). A total of 109 alleles generated in 88 individuals of three populations revealed higher genetic diversity at species (h = 0.209, I = 0.339) and population level (h = 0.169, I = 0.269) which is comparable to other bamboo species. Despite of large proportion of the genetic variation confined within the populations (75%), significant level of genetic differentiation (PhiPT= 0.250 and GST =0.199) was observed among the populations. Relatively higher genetic diversity was exhibited by the populations located at higher altitude than the populations of middle and low altitude. Large number of private bands recorded in the higher altitude populations showed less gene flow among the populations across wide altitudinal range. Mantel test showed significant correlation between genetic distance and altitudinal distance (r2 = 0.315, p ≤ 0.010) and indicates that altitude also plays key role in influencing genetic differentiation of the populations of D. hamiltonii. The clustering pattern obtained in UPGMA dendrogram, PCoA plot and Structure analysis revealed that structuring among the populations is fairly good.

Small millets widely known as 'nutricereals' consist a number of distinct species of small-seeded grasses that are grown for grain purpose, each with their own unique traits and very good nutritional value. The most economically significant of these at present is finger millet, but the other small millets like little millet, barnyard millet, proso millet, foxtail millet, and kodo millet are also have their own importance to the tribal farmers who grow them.