An experiment for diversity analysis with 66 genotypes of lablab bean (Lablab purpureus L.) was conducted at Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) during 2009-2010. Data were collected from all experimental plants on the following characters: days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days to first pod setting, no. of pods per plant, wt. of 20 pods (g), pod yield per plant (g), pod length (cm), number of seeds per pod, number of seeds per plant, 100-seed weight (g), and seed yield per plant (g). As per multivariate analysis, the genotypes were grouped into seven clusters. The highest number of genotypes 15 was included in cluster V followed by cluster II, which contained 13 genotypes. Cluster III, I, VI, IV contained 12, 11, 6, and 5 genotypes, respectively. The cluster VII which included 4 genotypes was the smallest among the 7 clusters. It is important to note that the highest amount of genetic divergence within the cluster group was noticed in the cluster VII having only 4 genotypes. The inter-cluster distances (D2) were higher than the intra-cluster distances. The inter-cluster D2 values varied from 2059.094 to 19302.6. The distances between the cluster VII and V; VII and VI; VII and II and VII and I were comparatively high than the other inter-cluster distances. The genotypes of these clusters were thus more diversified for yield and yield contributing characters. The intracluster distance (8502.795) observed in cluster VII revealed maximum diversity among themselves. While the least variation (625.372) was noticed between genotypes of the cluster II signifying the closeness of the genotypes included in this cluster. Data on the contribution of individual characters towards divergence suggested that no. of pods per plant contributed maximum (34.033%) to the genetic divergence followed by pod yield per plant and 100-seed weight. The genotypes of the cluster VII produced highest pods per plant and those of the cluster II produced lowest pod yield per plant. Seed yield per plant was found to be highest in cluster VII and lowest in cluster II. Results of the study suggested that selection for these traits in climbing genotypes might be effective. By strategically using this diversity, the breeder can develop high yielding varieties of lablab bean. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 38(1): 105-114, March 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v38i1.15195

This work aims to study the genetic parameters for yield and yield contributing characters in thirty-two early maturing rice (Oryza sativa L.) lines. The morphological data were analysed by different statistical plant breeding software’s that were reliable and faster in analysis. The line CT 18173-1-9-1-3-6-M had the tallest; IR 82489-594-3-2-2 had the earlier flowering line but BP 10620F-BB4-13-BB8 the early maturing one. The highest effective tillers hill-1 and yield plant-1 was found in BP 10620F-BB4-13-BB8. Number of filled grains panicle-1 and number of unfilled grains panicle-1 exhibited high Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) and Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV). Small differences between GCV and PCV were recorded for all the characters studied which indicated less environmental influence. The characters viz., 1000 seed weight and days to maturity exhibited high heritability and number of filled grains panicle-1 measured high genetic advance. The thirty-two lines were assigned into three clusters, which contained a different number of lines. Among the lines, BP 10620F-BB4-12-BB8 possessed the highest selection score index contrary to IR 79201-49-1-1-1 which had the lowest selection index score. The overall evaluation for the lines revealed that the best line was BP 10620F-BB4-12-BB8 and it can be used for future breeding program or farmer’s field cultivation.

Plants are naturally growing on the soil without hampering the eco-friendly environment. Intensive cultivation of crops with high yielding verities (HYV) hampering the soil health resulting unfertile soil. In addition, frequent uses of chemicals as well as overdose of synthetic fertilizer creating hazardous environment for the living things. However, to meet up the demand of foods as well as other basic requirements of increasing population of the world crop cultivation techniques need to be modernized. To overcome this situation, application of organic fertilizer need to apply regularly. Biochar can be a good source of organic fertilizer and it is currently using to improve the soil health globally. To examine the effect of biochar on jute growth and yield an experiment was set up in two different locations (Jute Agriculture Experimental Station (JAES), Manikganj, and Jute Research Sub Station (JRSS), Jashore of Bangladesh) during the period from August to December, 2019. Results revealed that location (JAES) had significant and positive effect on jute physiology and seed yield and as well as seed quality. Among fourteen treatments, treatment T2 (Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF)) showed the highest plant height (163.5 cm), base diameter (7.44 mm) and pod per plant (16.5) compare to the rest treatments. Treatment T6 (RDF 75% + 25%biochar@3.0tonha-1) showed the best seed weight (2.13 g) and seed yield/ plant (3.98 g) among all treatments. Interaction among treatments and locations, T2 x L2 affected seed germination (99%) and field emergence (92.33%) positively. From this research it was cleared that biochar alone may not enough but combination is required for improving jute seed yield and quality.

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The genus Hibiscus has more than 300 globally distributed species. This plant is well known for its bast fiber biogenesis, while its nutritional and medicinal values are largely ignored. Consequently, the nutritional properties of the Roselle variety, BJRI mesta-2, are unknown. Therefore, this study was carried out to analyze the nutritional composition of our selected Roselle tissues to support the nutritional requirements for humans in early summer in Bangladesh. Leaves were found to be a good source of calcium (2.7%), magnesium (1.6%), ash (7.34%), vitamin A (165.9%), and vitamin C (94.88%), whereas calyx was the potential source of potassium (1.9%), iron (422%), manganese (126%), and moisture (87.45%). Roselle seeds also have edible oil-producing capabilities, along with their nutritional properties. Our results indicate that BJRI mesta-2 can be an additional source of leafy vegetables, along with its herbal tea and edible oil contents.