Fusarium wilt (Fusarium udum Butler) is an important biotic constraint to pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) production worldwide. Breeding for fusarium wilt resistance continues to be an integral part of genetic improvement of pigeonpea. Therefore, the study was aimed at identifying and validating resistant genotypes to fusarium wilt and determining the magnitude of genotype × environment (G × E) interactions through multi-environment and multi-year screening. A total of 976 genotypes including germplasm and breeding lines were screened against wilt using wilt sick plot at Patancheru, India. Ninety two genotypes resistant to wilt were tested for a further two years using wilt sick plot at Patancheru. A Pigeonpea Wilt Nursery (PWN) comprising of 29 genotypes was then established. PWN was evaluated at nine locations representing different agro-climatic zones of India for wilt resistance during two crop seasons 2007/08 and 2008/09. Genotypes (G), environment (E), and G × E interactions were examined by biplot which partitioned the main effect into G, E, and G × E interactions with significant levels (p ≤ 0.001) being obtained for wilt incidence. The genotype contributed 36.51% of resistance variation followed by the environment (29.32%). A GGE biplot integrated with a boxplot and multiple comparison tests enabled us to identify seven stable genotypes (ICPL 20109, ICPL 20096, ICPL 20115, ICPL 20116, ICPL 20102, ICPL 20106, and ICPL 20094) based on their performance across diverse environments. These genotypes have broad based resistance and can be exploited in pigeonpea breeding programs.

Rust caused by Uromyces viciae-fabae is a major biotic constraint to field pea ( Pisum sativum L.) cultivation worldwide. Deployment of host-pathogen interaction and resistant phenotype is a modest strategy for controlling this intricate disease. However, resistance against this pathogen is partial and influenced by environmental factors. Therefore, the magnitude of environmental and genotype-by-environment interaction was assessed to understand the dynamism of resistance and identification of durable resistant genotypes, as well as ideal testing locations for rust screening through multi-location and multi-year evaluation. Initial screening was conducted with 250 diverse genotypes at rust hot spots. A panel of 23 promising field pea genotypes extracted from initial evaluation was further assessed under inoculated conditions for rust disease for two consecutive years at six locations in India. Integration of GGE biplot analysis and multiple comparisons tests detected a higher proportion of variation in rust reaction due to environment (56.94%) as an interactive factor followed by genotype × environment interaction (35.02%), which justified the requisite of multi-year, and multi-location testing. Environmental component for disease reaction and dominance of cross over interaction (COI) were asserted by the inconsistent and non-repeatable genotypic response. The present study effectively allocated the testing locations into various categories considering their “repeatability” and “desirability index” over the years along with “discrimination power” and “representativeness.” “Mega environment” identification helped in restructuring the ecological zonation and location of specific breeding. Detection of non-redundant testing locations would expedite optimal resource utilization in future. The computation of the confidence limit (CL) at 95% level through bootstrapping strengthened the accuracy of the GGE biplot and legitimated the precision of genotypes recommendation. Genotype, IPF-2014-16, KPMR-936 and IPF-2014-13 identified as “ideal” genotypes, which can be recommended for release and exploited in a resistance breeding program for the region confronting field pea rust.

Chickpea wilt incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris is one of the most important constraints to chickpea production worldwide and best managed through host plant resistance. The aim of this work was to find new sources of resistance to wilt disease and validate their stability across different environments. One-hundred and twenty three lines with wilt incidence <10% were selected from preliminary evaluation of 948 lines including germplasm and breeding lines from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for wilt resistance in the sick plot during 2003/2004 crop season at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India. Sixty lines were selected for second round of evaluation (2005/2006) and from those 57 lines were selected for third round of evaluation (2006/2007). In order to validate resistance stability, a Chickpea Wilt Nursery was constituted with 27 lines (7 germplasm accessions, 19 breeding lines and a highly susceptible check) and further tested in multi-location experiment for wilt resistance at 9 locations in India for three years (2007/2008-2009/2010). Variability in wilt incidence due to genetic differences among the genotypes, among the environments, and that due to genotype × environment interaction was highly significant (P < 0.001). Although complete resistance across the locations was not found, the genotype and genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analyses allowed the selection of three breeding lines (ICCV 05527, ICCV 05528 and ICCV 96818) and one germplasm accession (ICC 11322) with moderate level of disease resistance and stable performance across the environments. Genotype × environment (G × E) interaction contributed 36.7% of total variation of the multi-environment evaluation, revealing instability of the phenotypic expression across environments. The identified resistant sources should be useful to chickpea disease resistance breeding programs.

Fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis) is the most crucial limiting variable for decreasing yield levels of lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.) around the world. A set of 20 diverse lentil genotypes comprising breeding lines and released varieties was evaluated, along with susceptible controls, for resistance to fusarium wilt through natural incidence for two continuous years (2010–11 and 2011–12) in six diverse lentil-growing environments in India. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of genotype (G) and environment (E) for disease incidence was highly significant. Among the three sources of variation, the biggest contribution in disease occurrence was accounted for by environment (54.68%), followed by G × E interaction (17.32%). The high G × E variation necessitated assessment of the genotypes at different locations (environments). GGE biplot analysis of the studied genotypes revealed that genotype PL 101 and released cultivar L 4076 had low levels of disease incidence. The sources of resistance to fusarium wilt have great potential for use in lentil-breeding programs. Another biplot of relationships among environments demonstrated that, among the test locations, Sehore and Faizabad, were the most effective for differentiation of genotypes. On the basis of discriminating ability and representativeness, the Sehore location appeared an ideal testing site for natural incidence of F. oxysporum f. sp. lentis.

Lentil rust incited by the fungus Uromyces viciae-fabae is a major impedance to lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) production globally. Host-plant resistance is the most reliable, efficient and viable strategy among the various approaches to control this disease. In this study, 26 lentil genotypes comprising advanced breeding lines and released varieties along with a susceptible check were evaluated consecutively for rust resistance under natural incidence for two years and at five test locations in India. A heritability-adjusted genotype main effect plus genotype × environment interaction (HA-GGE) biplot program was used to analyse disease-severity data. The results revealed that, among the interactive factors, the GE interaction had the greatest impact (27.81%), whereas environment and genotype showed lower effects of 17.2% and 20.98%, respectively. The high GE variation made possible the evaluation of the genotypes at different test locations. The HA-GGE biplot method identified two sites (Gurdaspur and Pantnagar) as the ideal test environments in this study, with high efficiency for selection of durable and rust-resistant genotypes, whereas two other sites (Kanpur and Faizabad) were the least desirable test environments. In addition, the HA-GGE biplot analysis identified three distinct mega-environments for rust severity in India. Furthermore, the analysis identified three genotypes, DPL 62, PL 165 and PL 157, as best performing and durable for rust resistance in this study. The HA-GGE biplot analysis recognised the best test environments, restructured the ecological zones for lentil-rust testing, and identified stable sources of resistance for lentil rust disease, under multi-location and multi-year trials.

Chickpea stunt disease caused by Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV) (genus Mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae) is the most important biotic stress affecting chickpea crops worldwide. A survey conducted on the incidence of stunt disease clearly revealed high incidence of the disease with severe symptom expression in both indigenous and imported genotypes. To manage the disease in a sustainable way, resistant genotypes need to be bred by adopting objective and precise assessment of the disease response of chickpea genotypes. At present, evaluation of CpCDV resistance is conducted on the basis of natural infection in the field, which is bound to be erroneous due to vagaries in vector population. To circumvent the above problems, we devised an agroinoculation technique that involves the delivery of viral genomic DNA through Agrobacterium tumefaciens. An objective scoring system assigning quantitative value to different symptoms has been evolved to assess the response of chickpea genotypes to CpCDV inoculation. Using the inoculation and scoring techniques, we screened 70 genotypes, which helped in differentiating field resistance that is more due to resistance to vector feeding than resistance to the virus.

The development of transgressive phenotype in the segregating populations has been speculated to contribute to niche divergence of hybrid lineages, which occurs most frequently at larger genetic distances. Wild Lens species are considered to be more resistant against major biotic and abiotic stresses than that of the cultivated species. In the present study, we assessed the comparative agronomic performance of lentil (Lens culinaris subsp. culinaris) inter-sub-specific (L. culinaris subsp. orientalis) and interspecific (L. ervoides) derivatives, also discussed its probable basis of occurrence. The F3, F4, and F5 inter sub-specific and interspecific populations of ILL8006 × ILWL62 and ILL10829 × ILWL30, respectively revealed a substantial range of variation for majority of agro-morphological traits as reflected by the range, mean and coefficient of variation. A high level of fruitful heterosis was also observed in F3 and F4 progeny for important traits of interest. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher in magnitude than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) in all generations for several quantitative characters. The results showed high heritability estimates for majority of traits in conjunction with low to high genetic advance in F3 and F4 generations. Further, F5 progeny of ILL10829 × ILWL30, manifested resistant disease reaction for fifteen recombinant inbred lines (RILs) against (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis (Vasd. Srin.) Gord.). The multilocation agronomic evaluation of both crosses showed better results for earliness, desirable seed yield and Fusarium wilt resistance under two agro-ecological regions of north-western India. These better performing recombinants of ILL8006 × ILWL62 and ILL10829 × ILWL30 can be advanced for further genetic improvement and developing high yielding disease resistant cultivars of lentil.

Domesticated lentil has a relatively narrow genetic base globally and most released varieties are susceptible to severe biotic and abiotic stresses. The crop wild relatives could provide new traits of interest for tailoring novel germplasm and cultivated lentil improvement. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate wild lentil accessions for identification of economically viable agro-morphological traits and resistance against major biotic stresses. The study has revealed substantial variations in seed yield and its important component characters. Further, the diversity analysis of wild accessions showed two major clusters which were bifurcated into sub-clusters, thereby suggesting their wider genetic divergence. However, principal component analysis exhibited that seed yield plant-1 , number of seeds plant-1 , number of pods plant-1 , harvest index and biological yield plant-1 contributed significantly to the total genetic variation assessed in wild lentil taxa. Moreover, some of the wild accessions collected from Syria and Turkey regions showed resistance against more than one disease indicating rich diversity of lentil genetic resources. The identification of most promising genotypes carrying resistance against major biotic stresses could be utilized in the cultivated or susceptible varieties of lentil for enhancing genetic gains. The study has also identified some trait specific accessions, which could also be taken into the consideration while planning distant hybridization in lentil.