Genetic variability which is the basic material for selection and improvement of any crop is fast eroding in pearl millet as natural habitats of wild cultivated species are being destroyed and modern cultivars replacing the traditional cultivars. On this premise collection and characterisation of the crop germplasm was carried to identify elite accession(s) for the crop improvement. Thirty five (35) pearl millet accessions collected from the major cultivated states in Nigeria were evaluated for morphological and yield parameters using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with replicate three each. Wide range of significant (P < 0.05) variability was observed in all the morphological characters assessed with different trait been favoured by different genotypes. The highest plant height was recorded in KD-CK-01 (371.85 cm) and the least height in accession NG-ZA-05 with the value of 170.58 cm. Accession NG-ZC-03 had the highest weight of seeds per plot and weight of seeds per hectare with the value of 738.52 g and 1318.78 kg/ha respectively. Phenotypic coefficient of variance was higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient variance for all the traits studied. Moderate (30-60%) to high (>60%) heritability was obtained among the traits studied while genetic advanced ranged from 21.92 to 127.27. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions into four major clusters based on their morphological similarity; cluster I consisting 14.29% of the genotypes, 17.14% in cluster II, 40.00% in cluster III and 28.57% were clustered in IV. The high variability recorded in the germplasm couple with high heritability and genetic advance in most of the parameters studied, indicate that the accessions and traits could be explored in the crop improvement.

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Morphological and pollen parameter evaluation of M 2 generation of fast neutron irradiated capsicum annuum was carried out to assess the heritability of the useful traits observed in the M1 generation. Irradiated M 1 generation seeds at the Centre for Energy and Research Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria using Fast Neutron Irradiation (FNI) from Americium-Beryllium source with flux 1.5x10 4 n.cm -2 s -1 at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes exposure periods were collected from the Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology Minna. The seeds were raise in the experimental garden of the Department in Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) and assess for morphological and pollen parameter. The results of the plant height indicated significant difference (P<0.05) across the treated plants at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. The minimum height and number of leaf per plant at week 2 (3.53 cm and 6.25) and 4 weeks (11.80 cm and 13.85) was due to plant exposed to 30 minutes irradiated mutant. Maximum number of fruit and weight of fruit per plant was due to 60 minutes IEP with the value of 3.13 and 22.22 g respectively, while the minimum weight was due to 30 minutes exposure periods (13.89 g). Plants with 90 minutes exposure period recorded the highest percentage of pollen viability (96.78) and number of pollen production (79600.00).

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