Production of microspore-derived embryos from cultured anthers is now a well-established technique for the isolation of homozygous lines in sunflower. Experiment was conducted to optimize the culture composition for wild Helianthus and inerspecific hybrids. Anthers of uninucleate microspores were cultured in basal MS media with different hormonal combinations. The induction of callus was quick and proliferation high with the presence of 2,4-D, low cytokinin and auxin contents. Excess cytokinin and auxin had no significance in callus induction. Regeneration potential increased with the increased/optimum amount of casein hydrolysate and benzyl amino purine. Kinetin had no specific influence of regeneration frequency of callus. Genotype had a significant effect on the capacity of callus induction and plantlet formation. H.annuus × H.tuberosus responded well and produced plantlets in optimum culture medium. Androgenesis of interspecific hybrid H.annuus × H.tuberosus formed plantlets that surpassed the embryoid stage.

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Blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) yields are noticeably poor due to a shortage of improved varieties and an aggravated narrow genetic base. An attempt was made to isolate novel blackgram mutants by selecting for yield-related traits derived through gamma irradiation and testing the mutant genotype’s stability across the different environments. The irradiated blackgram populations M1-M5 were established in the background of cultivars ADT 3, Co 6, and TU 17-9. Desirable mutants were selected from M3 to M5 generations. It was observed in M2 and M3 that gamma rays showed higher mutagenic efficacy and generated good inherited variance for the yield-related traits. M4 established three divergent groups in each blackgram cultivar revealed by clustering analysis. The number of pods per plant, number of clusters per plant, and number of pods per cluster showed a strong direct association with single plant yield and could be considered as selection traits. G × E interactions were higher than the variation due to genotype for single plant yield. Limited environmental interaction was observed for the genotypes G24, G16, G36, G30, and G17, as revealed by AMMI, and the genotypes G18 and G29, as revealed by GGE. GGE biplot revealed the environment-specific genotypes G13 for E1 (Aduthurai), G7 for E2 (Kattuthottam), and G34 for E3 (Vamban) and also portrayed the highly discriminating (E3) and representative (E2) environments. Selected novel blackgram genotypes from this research are useful genetic stocks for genetic improvement and breeding.

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