Multi-location evaluation of field pea in Indian climates: eco-phenological dynamics, crop-environment relationships, and identification of mega-environments.

Characterization of crop-growing environments in relation to crop's genotypic performance is crucial to harness positive genotype-by-environment interactions (GEI) in systematic breeding programs. Given that, the study aimed to delineate the impact of diverse environments on crop phenology and yield traits of dwarf-statured field pea, pinpointing location(s) favoring higher yield and distinctiveness within breeding lines. We tested twelve field pea breeding lines across twenty locations in India, covering Central Zone (CZ), North Western Plain Zone (NWPZ), North Eastern Plain Zone (NEPZ), and Northern Hill Zone (NHZ).

Delineating the role of plant stature towards heat stress tolerance in field pea ( L.).

Terminal heat stress severely affects field pea production in tropical climates. Identifying and characterizing marker-trait(s) remain vital for breeding heat-tolerant cultivars of field pea. Field pea genotypes are highly variable for plant stature; however, the significance of plant stature for yield stability under high-temperature conditions is not yet well understood.

Multi-location evaluation of mungbean ( L.) in Indian climates: Ecophenological dynamics, yield relation, and characterization of locations.

Crop yield varies considerably within agroecology depending on the genetic potential of crop cultivars and various edaphic and climatic variables. Understanding site-specific changes in crop yield and genotype × environment interaction are crucial and needs exceptional consideration in strategic breeding programs. Further, genotypic response to diverse agro-ecologies offers identification of strategic locations for evaluating traits of interest to strengthen and accelerate the national variety release program.

Implications of exposing mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) plant to higher CO concentration on seed quality.

Understanding the crop response to elevated carbon dioxide (e[CO]) condition is important and has attracted considerable interest owing to the variability and crop-specific response. In mungbean, reports are available regarding the effect of e[CO] on its growth, physiology and yield. However, no information are available on the germination and vigour status of seeds produced at e[CO].

Genomics Enabled Breeding Strategies for Major Biotic Stresses in Pea ( L.).

Pea ( L.) is one of the most important and productive cool season pulse crops grown throughout the world. Biotic stresses are the crucial constraints in harnessing the potential productivity of pea and warrant dedicated research and developmental efforts to utilize omics resources and advanced breeding techniques to assist rapid and timely development of high-yielding multiple stress-tolerant-resistant varieties.

Characterizing plant trait(s) for improved heat tolerance in field pea (Pisum sativum L.) under subtropical climate.

Field pea is highly sensitive to climatic vagaries, particularly high-temperature stress. The crop often experiences terminal heat stress in tropical climates indicating the need for the development of heat-tolerant cultivars. Characterization and identification of stress-adaptive plant traits are pre-requisites for breeding stress-tolerant/adaptive cultivar(s).

Untangling the Influence of Heat Stress on Crop Phenology, Seed Set, Seed Weight, and Germination in Field Pea ( L.).

The apparent climatic extremes affect the growth and developmental process of cool-season grain legumes, especially the high-temperature stress. The present study aimed to investigate the impacts of high-temperature stress on crop phenology, seed set, and seed quality parameters, which are still uncertain in tropical environments. Therefore, a panel of 150 field pea genotypes, grouped as early ( = 88) and late ( = 62) maturing, were exposed to high-temperature environments following staggered sowing [normal sowing time or non-heat stress environment (NHSE); moderately late sowing (15 days after normal sowing) or heat stress environment-I (HSE-I); and very-late sowing (30 days after normal sowing) or HSE-II].

Effect of elevated carbon-dioxide on plant growth, physiology, yield and seed quality of chickpea ( L.) in Indo-Gangetic plains.

In the present scenario of climate change with constantly increasing CO concentration, there is a risk of altered crop performance in terms of growth, yield, grain nutritional value and seed quality. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in open top chamber (OTCs) during 2017-18 and 2018-19 to assess the effect of elevated atmospheric carbondioxide (e[CO]) (600 ppm) on chickpea ( JG 14) crop growth, biomass accumulation, physiological function, seed yield and its quality in terms of germination and vigour. The e[CO] treatment increased the plant height, leaf and stem biomass over ambient CO (a[CO]) treatment.

Implications of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration on seed quality.

Regeneration of plants through seed is governed by the ability and rate to germinate, which largely depends on the climatic variables prevailing during pre-harvest (mother plant growth) and post-harvest (processing and storage) stages. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration [CO] is increasing rapidly and is expected to surpass 550 ppm within this century. Elevated CO (e[CO]) is reported to influence the mother plant at morphological, phenological, physiological and biochemical levels across the species.

Mapping QTL for important seed traits in an interspecific F2 population of pigeonpea.

Seed traits present important breeding targets for enhancing grain yield and quality in various grain legume crops including pigeonpea. The present study reports significant genetic variation for six seed traits including seed length (SL), seed width (SW), seed thickness (ST), seed weight (SWT), electrical conductivity (EC) and water uptake (WU) among (L.) Millspaugh acc.