Combining ability analysis provides information about the gene action involved in the expression of a trait and facilitates breeding of superior cultivars. Hence, 45 hybrids evolved from 10 parent half-diallel were evaluated for combining ability to identify good general combiners and superior cross combinations for high ethanol yield from sweet sorghum. RSSV-21-2 has been identified as the best general combiner. It can be used in pedigree breeding programme for the incorporation of desired traits for enhancing ethanol yield. ARS-SS-35-1 × NSS-218 and ARS-SS-83 × NSS-221-2 have been identified as the best specific combinations. These could be exploited in heterosis breeding programme.
Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a national spice and vegetable of Ethiopia, produced as a cash crop. Biotic and abiotic stresses are very common throughout the pepper producing area of the country. Diseases are the major constraint to hot pepper production. An experimental trial was conducted at Harato Research site, Wollega University, Ethiopia to evaluate the reaction of five hot pepper varieties (Mareko Fana, Bako Local, Melka Shote, Melka Awaze and Oda Haro) and one local variety has control against the major fungal diseases. In vitro and in vivo, test was conducted during 2018/2019 main growing season. The result showed that Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici) followed by, Frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora capsici) and Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) were the most predominant and severe fungal pathogens for hot pepper at the specified growing area. There was high significant (P<0.001) difference between varieties for all diseases scored, yield and yield components. Even though, the degree of infection varied between the varieties, the local checks were highly attacked by Phytophthora blight and Fusarium wilt whereas, Melka Shote and Melka Awaze varieties were devastated by Frogeye leaf spot in both fields and greenhouse conditions. The tested varieties including traditional and improved varieties were affected by fungal pathogens and it is recommended to intensify research programs aimed at disease resistance and genetic improvement of cultivated hot pepper varieties through breeding procedures towards the interest of resource poor farmers.
Drought is a recurrent phenomenon in the fragile crop production environments. Drought resistant crop varieties strike roots deeper into the soil to withstand drought spells during the crop growth period better than the shallow rooted varieties. Thus the deeper they strike roots under stress, the better their survival. Plant breeding for less than ideal condition is very difficult especially for breeding resistance to drought. The existing screening techniques are based on lateral root or fibrous root development for monocots like rice or barley .This paper explains a new innovative approach called Induced Radicle Rooting (IRR) technique which is a novel technique in which radicle root is allowed to grow by suppressing the growth of the lateral roots. The induction of radicle rooting is achieved in three steps viz.(i) by allowing to touch the radicle of the germinated seed on the water level keeping other parts above. (ii) by reducing the water level of the well periodically then and there when the radicle starts growing (iii) by allowing the growth of the radicle down deeper in the capillary tube in such a way by arresting crown and lateral roots. As the moisture stress is artificially simulated right from the beginning in the capillary tubes, the varieties tend to put forth roots as deep as the water level is. The varietal difference in the radicle root length is so sharp that the shallow rooted varieties are differentiated from the deep rooted ones remarkably. It is a non destructive method and significantly correlated to field data ( r = 0.951). This technique a first of its kind shall be useful as a valuable tool to the scientific community engaged in searching for deep roots.
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