A field experiment was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra demonstration farm under Tuensang district, Nagaland during Rabi season of 2018 to compare growth and yield contributing characters of twenty-one different indigenous genotypes of Frenchbean (Kholar). The experiment was carried out in randomized block design with three replications. Seed yields varied significantly among the genotypes. The result revealed that number of pods per plant, number of seed per pod and pod length are related to seed yield. The highest seed yield was recorded in genotype G17 (16.88) followed by genotype G15(16.68). Significantly longest length of pod (19.83 cm) was also obtained from genotype (T17) which was followed by genotype T10 (17.83 cm). Maximum number of pods per plants (59.33) was recorded from genotype (G6) which was statistically significant over other genotypes. The highest 100 seed weight was recorded in genotype G17 (51.40). The highest plant height was recorded in G18 (251cm) while the lowest plant height was recorded in G4 (34.67cm). The study revealed that Genotype G5, G11, G15, G17 and G19 significantly out yielded other local genotypes with higher seed yield potential.

Ailanthus excelsa Roxb (tree of heaven), is a fast growing multipurpose tree species for arid and semi-arid areas with vide variability. It is, therefore, necessary to identify the plus trees for its improvement. Therefore, the present studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of progenies of A. excelsa for germination and seedling characters. Thirty plus trees were identified from states of Haryana and Rajasthan, India and sufficient quantities of mature pods were collected from these plus trees individually. Observations on seed and seedling traits were recorded. Thirty progenies showed significant (P>0.05) variability for all the characters studied. Higher magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) than corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was registered for all the characters. Highest heritability (99.50%) was shown by germination. The genetic advance as per cent mean varied from 12.62% (diameter) to 62.20% (fresh root weight). The clustering showed that progenies collected from different geographical regions were grouped in one cluster as evident from cluster III. Therefore, the pattern of divergence was not dependent upon geographical locations. Maximum intra- cluster distance (4.63) shown by cluster IV indicated wide divergence with in cluster itself. Maximum inter-cluster distance between cluster I and IV (7.44) indicated greater divergence between genotypes belonging to these clusters.

The genetic variability of 33 selected finger millet genotypes were assessed for magnitude of genetic variability, heritability and genetic mean advance for yield and yield contributing traits. Significant genotypic difference was observed among genotypes for all the 15 yield and yield contributing characters. The traits such as main earhead weight recorded the highest estimates of GCV (57.87 %) followed by grain yield per plant (33.90 %) and shoot dry weight (33.56 %). All the characters except test weight, number of fingers per main ear, number of tillers per plant and number of earheads per plant recorded high heritability in the present study indicated the relatively lower influence of environmental factors on these characters and where, phenotypic selection would be effective. The grain yield per plant recorded significant low differences between GCV and PCV coupled with high heritability and high genetic mean advance. Therefore, grain yield per plant could be potentially used in the genetic improvement of finger millet through selection and hybridization.

Blast disease of rice (Oryza sativa L.), caused by the fungal pathogen Pyricularia oryzae (synonym of Magnaporthe grisea) is a serious threat to rice production. Six generations including three segregating populations viz., F2, B1 and B2 of a cross between a popular high-yielding blast susceptible cultivar i.e., HUR 4-3 with Tetep (blast resistant genes Pi1 and Pi54) were used during 2014-15 and 2015-16 for the study the nature and magnitude of gene action for disease reaction and yield attributing traits through generation mean analysis. The mean performances of the six generations (viz., P1, P2, F1, F2, B1 and B2) on 11 quantitative and four qualitative traits were used for the analysis of scaling test and generation mean. In scaling test, the values of scale A and B were showed significance for most of traits which will indicate the non-allelic interaction. The complementary interaction was showed for plant height, spikelet fertility, grain yield per plant and head rice recovery. While, the remaining other traits were showed duplicate epistasis. Among the genotypes tested under epiphytotic conditions, lines may be carried of resistant genes were highly resistant to blast disease as compared to individuals with single and/or minor or absence of both resistance genes. It indicates the non-allelic gene interaction and has a duplicate effect when both resistant genes present together. The information on epistatic interaction of various yield contributing traits and disease resistance will further assist rice plant breeders for choosing appropriate breeding strategy for blast resistance and yield enhancement.