To investigate the response of rainfed maize to sowing methods and NPK levels, an experiment was undertaken during kharif of 2011 and 2012 at Dryland (Kerawa) Agriculture Research Station, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Budgam. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with combination of 2 sowing methods (flat sowing, 75 cm apart rows, and ridge sowing, 75 cm apart ridges) and 3 fertility levels (60 : 40 : 20, 75 : 50 : 30, and 90 : 60 : 40 N : P2O5 : K2O kg ha−1) with three replications. Various growth characters, namely, plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, number of days to different phenological stages, and yield, and yield contributing characters namely, cob length, number of grains cob−1, cob diameter (cm), and 100-seed weight (g), were significantly higher with S2 over S1 during both the years of experimentation. Fertilizer levels F3 (90 : 60 : 40) and F2 (75 : 50 : 30) at par with one another produced significant increase in growth and yield characters, namely, plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production at different growth stages, cob length, number of cobs plant−1, number of grains cob−1, and 100-seed weight over F1 (60 : 40 : 20). Significantly higher grain yield was recorded with fertilizer level F3 (90 : 60 : 40) being at par with F2 (75 : 50 : 30) and showed significant increase over F1 (60 : 40 : 20) with superiority of 5.4 and 5.7 per cent during 2011 and 2012, respectively. The findings of the study concluded that ridge method of sowing of maize with NPK levels of 75 : 50 : 30 kg ha−1 showed better performance of crop in terms of growth, yield, and yield attributes.

An increase in productivity is always one of the main goals of any crop breeding program including rice. However, many goals can be identified for this crop varying in importance from region to region, country to country, and even within a given country. Increase in grain yield potential is the major goal of almost all rice breeders programs. The major impacts are related to the development of new strategies to increase the genetic grain yield potential of the varieties. Rice breeders have been very successful in improving the crop. Some milestones are the contribution to the green revolution with the semi-dwarf varieties, the new rice plant type and hybrid rice. The main breeding method used to improve rice is the pedigree, but development of hybrids and population improvement are added to the breeder's portfolio. Breeders have been taking advantage of biotechnology tools to enhance their breeding capacity; however, many programs are still struggling on how to integrate them into the breeding programs and how to balance the allocation of resources between conventional and modern tools.

Wheat along with rice and maize is fulfilling half of the calories demands of the world. Global Wheat production has increased tremendously since green revolution in 1960's and helped in minimizing hunger and malnutrition. Developing countries, which consume 60% of the global wheat production, have shown a higher yield increase than the developed countries in the past [1]. It was driven by the hunger prevalence in these countries and was attributable to the introduction of high yielding and rusted resistant semi dwarf varieties developed under the collaborative efforts of International and National research systems during the last 50 years. Whereas, climate change and the emergence of new pests and diseases are threatening the food sustainability. The evolution of new races of disease pathogens like stem rust (Ug 99) is of serious concern. In order to feed the ever increasing population we have to increase wheat production at the rate 1.6% which can be achieved by developing high yielding varieties having a good tolerance level for biotic and abiotic stresses.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop of cool climates, and plays a key role in the food and nutritional security of India. The objective of this study was to establish the inter-relationship and direct and indirect effect of various wheat components on yield. Thirty-seven wheat genotypes and three check varieties were studied for correlation and path coefficient analysis of some quantitative traits in wheat at Kisan (P.G), College, Simbhaoli in India. Generally, the estimates of genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than the corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients for all the character combinations. Seed yield was significantly and positively associated with number of spikelets plant , followed by number of effective tillers and 100-seed weight at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. Seed yield showed a significant negative association with number of seeds spikelet -1 at genotypic level. Among the significant inter-relationships, the association of days to 75% spike emergence with days to maturity and 100-seed weight were significant and positive, but were negative and significantly associated with number of seeds spikelet -1 and number of grains spike -1. Similarly, the associations of spike length with number of seeds spikelet -1 , and number of spikelets plant -1 and number of effective tillers were negative and significant. The association of number of spikelets plant -1 with number of effective tillers was also positive and highly significant. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the magnitude of positive direct effect on seed yield was highest through number of spikelets plant , followed by number of grains spike -1 and 100-seed weight; whereas protein content followed by number of seeds spikelet -1 and number of effective tillers exhibited high, but negative direct effect on seed yield plant RÉSUMÉLe blé (Triticum aestivum L.) est une culture céréalière importante des climats plus frais, jouant un rôle clé dans la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle de l'Inde. L'objectif de cette étude était d'établir les relations entre différents composants du blé et leurs effets directs et indirects sur le rendement. Trente-sept génotypes de blé et trois varietés-témoins ont été étudiés pour vérifier la corrélation et l'analyse du coefficient de certains caractères quantitatifs du blé au collège Kisan (PG) à Simbhaoli en Inde. Généralement, les estimations des coefficients de corrélation du génotype étaient plus élevées que les coefficients de corrélation phénotypique correspondante pour toutes les combinaisons de caractères. Le rendement en grains est significativement et positivement associé à un nombre d'épillets par plante, suivi par le nombre de talles effictives et le poids de 100 grains à la fois aux niveaux phénotypiques et génotypiques. Le rendement en grains a montré une association négative significative avec le nombre de grains par épillet au niveau du génotype. Parmi les inter-relations significatives, l'association des jours à 75% d' émergence d'ép...

The seeds of two soybean cultivars viz., Pusa-16 and PK-1042 were treated with 15, 30, and 45 kR of gamma rays, three concentrations of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%), and their combinations. Various morphological mutants were recorded in M 2 and M 3 generations. These morphological mutants were named on the basis of the part of the plant body affected. Eight different morphological mutants, i.e., tall, dwarf, gigas, black pod, smooth pod, black spotted seed, bold seeded, and early maturing were isolated. Among them, early maturing and bold seeded mutants had the potential to be incorporated into breeding programs.