This study was conducted to assess the genetic variability and correlation of phenotypic characteristics in 12 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes including 11 WorldVeg and one commercial variety (Pusa Ruby) in Terai (plain) region of Nepal in 2021–2022. This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The phenotypic traits, including days to 50% flowering, plant vigor and height, fruit number/plant, fruit yield, fruit weight and diameter, fruit firmness and fruit pericarp thickness, and total soluble solids (TSS) content of the fruits, were studied. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits except for plant vigor. The genotype of AVTO1705 resulted the highest fruit yield (2.9 kg/plant) than Pusa Ruby, a commercial check (0.5 kg/plant). The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits and PCV values were maximum for the number of fruits, fruit yield, and fruit weight. High PCV, GCV, and genetic advance (GA) were observed for yield, fruit weight, and plant height, respectively, indicating the additive gene effect. High heritability for fruit yield/plant and plant height inferred the phenotypic selection for their genetic improvement. Fruit yield was significantly (P<0.05) positively correlated with the fruit number and fruit weight, and direct selection of these traits are reliable for yield improvement in tomato.

The main objective of this paper is to elucidate the present status of Plant Genetic Resources (PGRs), their research, and management system in the genebank of Nepal. PGRs for food and agriculture are the biological basis of world food and nutrition security. The remarkable elevation ranging from 60 meter above sea level (masl) to highest summit Mount Everest (8,848 masl) has created huge geographical and climatic variation which harbor enormous plant species in the country. National Agriculture Genetic Resource Center (NAGRC) or ‘Genebank’ currently conserved 11,051 accessions of more than 110 crops species belonging to cereals (5,850), pseudo cereals (1,150), pulses (1,800), oilseeds (185), and vegetables (565) including other crops (1,501) at ex-situ. Diversity mapping, characterization and evaluation of PGRs, duplicates identification, diversity study, pre-breeding and landrace enhancement are the major research works of NAGRC, and its management strategies include conservation method, types, and groupings of PGRs. Characterization, evaluation and tagging of economically important traits in PGRs are now more important for strengthening their pre-breeding and proper utilization. Additionally, strong communication and collaborative network among public, private, community based organizations and international organizations are important for the effective management of PGRs.

토마토의 착과와 수확량은 여름철 비닐하우스내 고온스트레스로 인하여 감소하게 된다. 본 연구는 여름철 화천지역에 위치한 비닐하우스에서 지베렐린(GA3)과 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy Acetic Acid(2,4-D) 처리가 토마토의 수확량, 착과율, 착과 후 과실품질에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 ‘Adoration‘ 품종을 이용하여 실험하였다. GA3 0-, 5-, 10-, 15mg·L−1와 2,4-D 0-, 5-, 10mg·L−1를 개화 초기에 처리한 후 착과율, 수확량, 과실품질과 관련된 형질을 관찰한 결과, GA3 10mg·L−1처리구에서 대조구에 비해 14.2%의 착과율 증가를 보였다. GA3처리구에서는 수확량, 과중, 상품과실 수에 유의한 차이가 있었다. 2,4-D를 개화기에 처리했을 경우 착과율, 수확량, 상품과의 과중에 영향을 미쳤으며 GA3과 2,4-D를 각각 5mg·L−1 농도로 혼합처리 하였을 때 가장 높은(62.5%) 착과율을 나타내었다. 과실크기와 고형물함량은 GA3처리구에서만 유의성 있는 차이를 보였다. 따라서 여름철 비닐하우스의 고온조건에서 GA3 0mg·L−1처리구와 2,4-D 5mg·L−1를 처리했을 때 착과율이 가장 높아 많은 수확량을 기대할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

A total of 447 accessions consisting of seven Brassica spp.; Brassica carinata (34), B. juncea (199), B. rapa subsp. dichotoma (18), B. rapa. subsp. oleifera (14), B. rapa subsp. rapa (36), B. rapa subsp. trilocularis (56) and B. alba subsp. alba (90) were studied for their morphological characters and fatty acid compositions. There was a wide variation for morphological traits, oil content and fatty acid composition among Brassica species. Seed number/silique and yield/plant were varied from 4.2 (B. alba) to 25.1 (B. rapa subsp. trilocularis) and from 170.7 g (B. rapa subsp. oleifera) to 351.9 g (B. juncea L. Czern.), respectively. Among Brassica species, B. rapa subsp. trilocularis exhibited the highest oil (29.2%), stearic (20.4%) and erucic acid (45.3%) content. B. carinata had the highest content of palmitic (5.2%), oleic (21.2%) and linolenic acid (11.1%). B. rapa subsp. dichotoma and B. rapa subsp. oleifera exhibited the highest content of linoleic (8.1%) and behenic (26.9%) acid, respectively. B. rapa subsp. trilocularis exhibited the highest (45.3%) erucic acid content and significant positive relationship was observed between oleic acid and linoleic acid. This variation of agronomic and fatty acid compositions in Brassica species can be utilized to develop new varieties.

Glucosinolates (GSLs), beneficial secondary metabolites for human health are abundantly present in radish vegetable. Radish is a member of Brassicaceae family and its seed, leaf and root contain very important GSLs. The objective of this study was to determine the variation of individual and total GSL contents in leaves and roots of 44 radish (Raphanus spp.) germplasm (26 R. sativus L., 3 R. raphanistrum, and 15 R. sativus L. var. raphanistroides Makino), and compare the GSL contents between leaves and roots among three Raphanus species. Thirteen GSLs were identified, being the glucoraphasatin (GRS) and glucobrassicin (GBS) the most abundant aliphatic and indolyl GSLs in both the leaves and roots. Variation in individual and total GSL contents was found among the germplasm of three Raphanus species. The GRS content was higher in roots than that of leaves in all three Raphanus species but the GBS content was higher in leaves than roots. GRS was represented 87.0%, 92.7% and 94.7% of the total GSL in roots of R. sativus L., R. raphanistrum and R. sativus L. var. raphanistroides (Makino) germplasm, respectively. Germplasm of R. raphanistrum exhibited the highest (average, 79.5 μmol/g dw) total GSL with a ranged from 62.7 to 92.9 μmol/g dw. The germplasm IT119288, Joseonmu and IT119262 from R. sativus L., RA 504 and K046542 from R. raphanistrum, and Gyeongju-2003-32 (G2003-32) and IT302373 from R. sativus L. var. raphanistroides (Makino) had high total GSL contents and these could be good candidates for developing the functional compounds-rich varieties in radish breeding program.

Morphological variation between cultivated and weedy types of Perilla frutescens var. frutescens and P. frutescens var. crispa were studied in 327 germplasm by examining 17 morphological characters. The germplasm between the two varieties were varied for their qualitative and quantitative characters. The seed coat color of cultivated P. frutescens var. frutescens is commonly light brown and brown while deep brown color was observed in the weedy type P. frutescens var. frutescens and P. frutescens var. crispa. The leaf size, cluster length, plant height, flower number per cluster and seed weight in cultivated P. frutescens var. frutescens were significantly (P<0.05) different from weedy type P. frutescens var. frutescens and P. frutescens var. crispa. The cultivated P. frutescens var. frutescens exhibited significantly higher plant height (158.6 ㎝) compared to the weedy P. frutescens var. crispa (133.8 ㎝). Likewise, seed weight was significantly higher in cultivated (1.9 g) than in the weedy type of P. frutescens var. frutescens (1.6 g) and P. frutescens var. crispa (1.4 g). Principal component analysis (PCA) result showed that the first and second principal component cumulatively explained 86.6% of the total variation. The cultivated type P. frutescens var. frutescens and its weedy accessions were not clearly separated with P. frutescens var. crispa by PCA. Hence it requires the use of molecular markers for better understanding of their genetic diversity.

Lettuce is an important annual leafy vegetable and bitterness is its potent flavor character. Lettuce germplasm differ their phenotypic characters and sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) contents which are important for consumer’s acceptance. This study was carried out to evaluate the phenotypic characters and SLs contents in one hundred lettuce germplasm in Jeonju, Korea. Twenty-three agro-morphological (16 qualitative and 7 quantitative) traits and two SLs (lactucin and lactucopicrin) contents were studied in these germplasm. Germplasm exhibited the variation in qualitative and quantitative characters. Average plant weight was 423.9 g with a range from 116.0 to 905.0 g. Lactucin content was varied from 19.7 (IT 294226) to 194.4 ㎍/g (IT 294298) with an average concentration of 84.7 ㎍/g. Lactucopicrin ranged from 82.5 (IT 300134) to 2228.6 ㎍/g (IT 294210) with an average concentration of 586.3 ㎍/g. Total SLs content was ranged from 120.1 (IT 300134) to 2286.6 (IT 294210) ㎍/g with the average concentration of 671.0 ㎍/g. Significant (p≤0.05) differences were found between crisp head and butter head germplasm for lactucin, lactucopicrin and total SLs content. Crisp head germplasm revealed the highest average lactucin (112.9 ㎍/g), lactucopicrin (734.8 ㎍/g) and total SLs content (847.7 ㎍/g). Crisp head and leafy type germplasm exhibited more total SLs content (847.7 and 744.7 ㎍/g, respectively) than cos (524.9 ㎍/g) and butter head type (519.4 ㎍/g). Principal component analyses of the quantitative traits indicated that the first principal component axis accounted more than 91% of the total variation. This study revealed the ample genetic variation in the agro-morphological traits and SLs contents to support the selection for improved lettuce varieties.

This study was done to characterize the anther derived regenerants (R1) including haploids and spontaneous diploids of minipaprika (cvs.‘Vine sweet-red’ ‘Vine sweet-yellow’ and ‘Vine sweet-orange’) in glasshouse. Eleven haploids (three, seven and one from red, yellow and orange, respectively) and sixteen spontaneous diploids (five, nine and two from red, yellow and orange, respectively) were grown in plastic pot with three (red, yellow and orange) anther donor (R0) F1minipaprika varieties. Regenerants were characterized for their plant and fruit characters as well as their fruit color and shape. The homozygosity of spontaneous diploid plants of each population was assessed using simple-sequence repeat (SSR) marker analysis. Haploid plants were characterized by reduced plant height, small leaves, short petiole and internode and small flower bud and all haploids showed the sterility and vice-versa in spontaneous diploid lines. The fruit biometrical traits exhibited greater variation within the spontaneous diploid plants and average value of quantitative traits is lower than standard varieties. MR-4 gave the highest yield (150.5 g) per plant followed by MY-6 (140.0 g) and MY-8 (130.5 g) and the lowest in MY-5 (31.5 g). Morphological marker such as fruit color further determinedthe microspore origin of androgenic diploids obtained in anther culture of ‘Vine sweet-red’. Of the fifteen spontaneous diploid plants, fourteen plants were identified as doubled haploids using microsatellite markers (SSR), and these homozygous lines are recommended to use in minipaprika breeding program.

Fifty-five sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) germplasm from the Rural Development Administration (RDA) were analyzed for their fruit yield and fruit quality characters, including fruit weight, fruit size, pericarp thickness, total soluble content, fruit lobe, fruit shape, fruit surface and fruit color. Fruit yield per plot ranged from 200 g to 8150 g (average, 1884 g). Fruit fresh-weight per fruit ranged from 27.3 g to 200.0 g with an average of 97.2 g. Fruit length varied from 4.0 cm to 16.2 cm (average, 9.6 cm). Fruit length-to-width ratio ranged from 0.6 to 3.0 with an average 1.7. The fruit pericarp thickness ranged from 1.8 mm to 10.7 mm (average, 4.8 mm). Total soluble content was the highest (8.5˚ Brix) in K156286 and the lowest (5.3˚ Brix) in K156208 with the average value 6.7˚ Brix. Fruit lobes numbers varied from 2 to 4. Blocky, triangular, elongated, rectangular and round fruit shape identified among the sweet pepper accessions. Fruit surface varied from smooth to wrinkle and fruit color also varied. The presence of variability in fruit yield and quality traits within the sweet pepper genotypes can be utilized to develop high yielding sweet pepper variety with better fruit quality characters.

A field experiment was conducted to examine the fruit quality characters in second generation (F2) hybrid cultivar and to compare the fruit characters with original F1 hybrid cultivar of minipaprika (yellow and orange type) at the Research Farm, Hwacheon in July, 2010. Fruit characters varied within F2 population of each minipaprika type. In minipaprika yellow, fruit weight varied from 12.2 g to 50.8 g (average 28.5 g) and fruit length/width varied from 1.4 to 2.8 (average, 2.0). Pericarp thickness ranged from 1.8 mm to 4.1 mm (average, 2.9 mm). Total soluble solid (TSS) varied from 6.2˚Brix to 13.5˚Brix with an average of 8.7˚Brix. Fruit volume varied from 10.3 cc to 46.7 cc with an average of 24.4 cc. In minipaprika orange type, fruit weight ranged from 19.7 g to 42.4 g (average, 29.0 g) and fruit length/width varied from 1.5 to 2.6 (average, 2.0). Pericarp thickness varied from 2.1 mm to 4.1 mm with an average of 3.0 mm. TSS varied from 5.0˚Brix to 12.2˚Brix (average, 7.9˚Brix) and average fruit volume was 24.6 cc ranging from 10.7 cc to 35.0 cc. The average fruit quality characters in F2 population in both yellow and orange minipaprika did not differ from their F1 hybrid parent and F2 seed can be an additional way to supply high yielding hybrid cultivars at lower cost to the minipaprika growers.

Anthers of sweet pepper F1 cultivar ‘Special’ were cultured on Dumas De Vaulx (C medium), supplemented with 0.1mgL-1 2, 4-D and 0.1 mg · L-1 kinetin with 3% sucrose, and 0.32% phytagel. The calluses obtained were further sub-cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium without growth regulators for regeneration. Regenerated plantlets were grown in plastic pots under plastic house and characterized their cytological and morphological characters in spring, 2008. Twenty percent plantlets were identified as haploid plants after chromosome and ploidy analysis. Haploid plants contained 12 chromosomes, high stomatal density with small stomatal length as compared to diploid plants. Stomatal length in haploids was 23.3% smaller than diploids. Haploid plants were characterized as small leaf and petiole size, poor vigor, thin stem and short plant height, short internodes and small flower buds, fruit size and fruit weight as compared to diploid plants and most of the haploid fruits were seedless. SP55, SP62, SP68, SP72 and SP77 are found high yielding double haploids with high total soluble content (8.6, 8.7, 9.2, 9.1 and 9.8 ºBrix, respectively) and desirable fruit shape, and recommended them to exploit as inbred lines for heterosis breeding.

Sweet pepper inbred lines (KNU1003, KNU1006, KNU1007, KNU1009, KNU1015, KNU1017 and KNU2006) developed at Kangwon National University (KNU) through conventional means, inbred lines (5AVS1, 5AVS2, 5AVS3, 5AVS5, 5AVS7 and 5AVS8) collected at Rural Development Administration (RDA) and inbred lines (SP12, SP27 and SP14) derived from anther culture were used as female parents and anther culture derived homozygous lines (SP9, SP10, SP14, SP24, SP25, SP27, SP30, SP32, SP34, SP38, SP43, SP45 and SP51) were used as male parents to produce F1 hybrids. A total of 37 F1 hybrids were evaluated for fruit yield and quality characters in summer season, 2007. Variation in fruit number, fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and fruit volume was observed among the F1 hybrids. Superiority on yield over standard/commercial varieties were differed among F1 hybrids. Hybrid 5AVS8 x SP45 exhibited highest heterosis over Special (16.5%) and Fiesta (24.7%). Fruit quality characters (fruit length, fruit width, pericarp thickness, total soluble solid, fruit shape and fruit color) were varied among the F1 hybrids. Fruit number, fruit weight and fruit volume per plant were correlated with fruit yield. Based on the standard heterosis expressed by the hybrids and quality characters evaluation, KNU1017 x SP27, 5AVS1 x SP43, 5AVS5 x SP27, 5AVS8 x SP45, SP12 x SP38 and SP27 x SP25 hybrids were found to be superior over commercial cultivars and are selected. Inbred lines of these hybrid combinations can be used to produce F1 hybrid seed for commercial production.