Wheat must flower at an optimal time in a given environment to maximise yield. It has been proposed that the variation in alleles of five major development genes could be used to predict flowering time. Comparing genotypes matched for alleles of these five genes in controlled conditions, we show that allelic variation could not accurately predict time of flowering.

Drought stress is a primary abiotic constraint affecting crop production worldwide. It has been established that exogenous spermidine (Spd) stimulates plant tolerance to drought stress. In this study, we found that exogenous Spd successfully reduced oxidative damage by enhancing the antioxidant components, raising the redox state of ascorbate and glutathione, and altering the polyamine pool, and improved plant drought tolerance in maize.

Majority of the population of developing and under-developed countries are deficient of Fe and Zn which are vital for proper human body development. Pearl millet is staple food in many states of India and poverty ridden area of world. Hence, stable pearl millet lines for Fe and Zn contents are selected on the basis of their performance in diverse environments which can be used for further breeding programs.

The major findings are: (i) HA-GGE biplot analysis revealed three distinct mega-environments for rust severity in India; (ii) GE interaction had the greatest impact (27.81%) on rust severity, whereas environment and genotype showed lower effects of 17.2% and 20.98%, respectively; and (iii) three genotypes, DPL 62, PL 165 and PL 157 were found best performing and durable for rust resistance.

We identified 32 phenotype and 34 genotypes of saponin composition in 3805 Chinese wild soybeans. Geographical differentiation was characterised mainly by latitudinal differences, with two primary geographical groups (north and south) based on saponin genes. Chinese wild soybean accessions differed from Japanese and South Korean ones in genetic structure based on saponin composition, the latter two being likely to have spread from southern China in the glacial stages during the last Ice Age.

Summer dormancy, persistence and recover after long drought stress are important traits associated with drought tolerance and yield sustainability in Dactylis glomerata. The moderate to high narrow-sense heritability for yield components, summer dormancy and persistence suggested that these traits can be used in an appropriate selection index to enhance forage yield and persistence and identify desirable genotypes for arid and semi-arid regions.

Association analyses of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) indicate that simultaneous improvement of seed and forage yield could be achieved in orchardgrass at normal and water stress conditions. Some markers showed a putative relationship with multiple yield-related traits and drought tolerance index across environments. Suggested markers are potentially important targets for determine their chromosome locations, the corresponding sequences and their potential functions.

The study quantified the relative importance of leaf age and leaf length on the forage digestibility declined during vegetative pasture regrowth. Both leaf age and length were linked to differences in leaf morphogenesis and sheath tube length and were affected by growing conditions. The results suggest that the morphological linkage between longer sheath tubes with older and longer leaves and lower digestibility can be controlled through shorter residual pasture height.