Niranjan Ravindra Thakur

The high-oleic acid content of the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) oil, regulated by the fatty acid desaturase 2-1 (CtFAD2-1) gene, provides superior oxidative stability for applications. To explore alternative genetic sources for this trait, we employed induced mutagenesis with gamma irradiation and ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) for two safflower cultivars, AKS 207 and PKV Pink. Screening of M₂ populations identified several mutants with significantly higher oleic acid content, reaching up to 36.86%. The mutagenized populations also exhibited a wide spectrum of variation for other agronomically important traits, including increased oil content (up to 35.19%), enhanced seed protein (up to 22.51%), and seed size and weight. Correlation and principal component analyses confirmed the antagonistic relationship between oleic and polyunsaturated fatty acids and the positive association among seed size parameters. Molecular profiling using an allele-specific PCR assay targeting the CtFAD2-1 locus revealed that high-oleic mutants did not carry known mutations, suggesting the involvement of alternative alleles, micro-mutations, or other genes regulating oleic acid accumulation. This study provides valuable pre-breeding germplasm with improved agronomic and quality traits and identifies novel genetic sources for high-oleic acid in safflower. These mutants form a new genetic basis for understanding fatty acid biosynthesis and developing next-generation high-stability oil cultivars.

Climate‐induced challenges, such as drought and nutrient depletion, are increasingly constraining global crop production, threatening food and nutritional security. Sorghum bicolor (L.), a climate‐resilient cereal, demonstrates strong adaptive potential under resource‐limited conditions due to its robust root system architecture (RSA). While above‐ground improvements have received significant attention, the role of RSA in enhancing resource‐use efficiency (RUE), particularly water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), remains underexploited in breeding programs. This review explores the physiological and molecular roles of sorghum RSA traits (e.g., root depth, density, branching pattern, and root angle) in improving RUE under abiotic stress. It highlights advances in multi‐omics approaches, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), which provide insights into the genetic regulation of root development. High‐throughput phenotyping platforms, including 2D, 3D, and emerging 4D imaging techniques, are evaluated for their effectiveness in capturing dynamic root traits and informing selection strategies. Sorghum's RSA offers a functional model for developing climate‐resilient cultivars with improved WUE and NUE. The integration of modern phenotyping techniques with molecular insights and multi‐omics strategies will expedite the identification of critical genetic and physiological determinants of RSA characteristics. This synthesis underscores the potential of RSA‐targeted breeding strategies to enhance crop productivity and sustainability in water—and nutrient ‐constrained environments, aiding sustainable intensification and global food security in the face of climate change challenges.

Introduction: Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), triggered by heavy, prolonged rainfall and high humidity during the pod ripening stage, is a significant constraint on mungbean production, causing severe losses in yield and quality. This results in poor seed quality and a reduced market value. Methods: This study, conducted at the Agriculture Research Station, Badnapur, Maharashtra, aimed to develop PHS-resistant mungbean lines through introgression of resistance genes from the wild species, Vigna radiata var. sublobata . Seven PHS-tolerant inter-specific derivatives were identified from a cross between the elite cultivar BM-4 and the wild accession BWM-29. These derivatives were further crossed with six locally adapted varieties from different agroclimatic regions, producing 42 cross combinations. Parental lines and their crosses were evaluated for PHS incidence and fresh seed germination (FSG) under control conditions. Results and discussion: Wide genetic variation was observed, for PHS ranging from 3.55% to 98.86% and FSG from 4.76% to 96.17%. Four crosses exhibited less than 10% PHS, indicating strong tolerance. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the FSG and PHS. Genetic analysis indicated that PHS is controlled by a single gene, with dormancy dominant over non-dormant, representing the major finding of this research. Principal component analysis revealed that PHS and FSG were the main contributors to the observed variability. Based on PHS tolerance, crosses were categorized as tolerant, moderately tolerant, moderately susceptible, and susceptible groups. The identified PHS-tolerant crosses and male parents will be valuable resources for mungbean breeding. This study highlights the importance of utilizing wild genetic resources and inter-specific hybridization to enhance PHS tolerance in the mungbean providing a robust foundation for breeding resilient, high yielding climate-adapted cultivars.

Morphological traits such as seed coat colour, seed coat texture, seed coat lustre and pod pigmentation are crucial for identifying mungbean varieties and determining market value in India, where consumers prefer bold, yellow seeds and pods. To understand the genetics behind these traits, the bold, yellow‐seeded, yellow‐podded germplasm BM‐21‐3 was used in hybridization studies. Results showed complementary epistasis controls green seed coat and purple premature pod pigmentation, dominant over yellow seed coat and green premature pods. Single‐gene inheritance governs purple hypocotyl, dull seed coat and black pods, dominant over their green, shiny and yellow counterparts. Seed coat texture exhibited roughness dominance in smooth × rough crosses, but rough × rough crosses produced smooth seeds, indicating nonallelic duplicate dominant gene interaction. These genes, designated as Rt1/rt1 and Rt2/rt2, yield smooth textures in their homozygous recessive forms. Additionally, the identified monogenic traits showed potential for developing mungbean lines with bold, shiny and yellow seeds. These phenotypic markers are valuable tools for varietal differentiation, providing a robust foundation for breeding programmes aimed at enhancing seed quality and marketability.

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass.), an oilseed crop from the Compositae family, thrives in temperate and tropical climates. Its small seeds, rich in oil (50–60% biocrude), are widely used for biodiesel, soap production, and as a condiment in culinary applications. Additionally, harvested Niger plants serve as green manure, improving soil health. However, Niger cultivation in India has significantly declined over the past decade due to low yields, a poor seed set, self-incompatibility, a low harvest index, and seed shattering. A lack of genetic diversity further restricts breeders from developing high-yielding cultivars. The discovery of hereditary male sterility in India has facilitated heterosis utilization and laid the foundation for breeding improved varieties. This review explores the use of traditional breeding methods and genetic tools to enhance Niger, emphasizing plant tissue culture, molecular markers, and the identification of promising gene targets to produce desirable traits. Advanced technologies like CRISPR/Cas, including base and prime editing, are promising to revolutionize Niger breeding and functional genomics research. The insights in this paper stress the urgent need to genetically improve Niger and other underutilized oil crops to meet the increasing global demand for sustainable and diverse oil crops. Such interventions could transform Niger cultivation, ensuring its role in global agriculture.