Hydration characteristics of wheat grain

The hydration characteristic of wheat was studied by soaking in water at temperatures of 30 (room temperature) 50, 60 and 70 oC in constant temperature water bath.  The weight gain due to the hydration process was determined in terms of moisture content (% d.b).  Water absorption rate was high at the early stage of hydration (10-30 min depending on temperature) followed by a decreased rate and finally approaching equilibrium condition.  Peleg's equation adequately described the hydration characteristics of wheat under the experimental condition (R2 = 0.95 to 0.99).  The Peleg rate constant k1 decreased while Peleg capacity constant k2 increased significantly with an increase in temperature from room temperature to 70 oC, demonstrating that the water absorption rate increased and water absorption capacity decreased with increase in temperature.  The agreement between experimental and estimated values of the hydration data (R2 = 0.97 to 0.99) confirmed that Peleg's equation could be used to describe the hydration characteristics of wheat under the experimental conditions considered

Development of new promising varieties of faba bean through traditional pedigree method for commercial cultivation in plain zone of India

A long term experiment was carried out in MAP Section, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding,  CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar from 2005-06 to 2018-19 on identification of elite genotypes from germplasm and their utilization in the development of high yielding variety through hybridization followed by traditional pedigree method to obtain desirable transgressive segregants in Faba bean. In the present investigation a number of germplasm lines were screened for seed yield and other related traits including national check Vikrant during 2005-06 under AICRN in augmented block design. As a result, ten elite genotypes identified i.e. EC117755, EC117799, EC248710, EC329675, HB123, HB180, HB430, HB204, HB 430, HB 502, HB 503 & one check variety, Vikrant. By using these elite genotypes, a number of F1 hybrids were made during 2005-06 and F2 to F6 generations were evaluated to identify the superior progenies during 2007-08 to 2011-12. After a long process of evaluation, rejection and selection, 20 superior transgressive segregant homozygous progenies were identified to make new entries. Later on, during 2012-2013, the superior entries (viz. HB12-1, HB12-5, HB12-8, HB12-9, HB12-11, HB12-12, HB12-13, HB12-14, HB12-15, HB12-26, HB12-28, HB12-29, HB12-30, HB12-31, HB12-34, HB12-36, HB12-37,HB12-38, HB12-39 and HB12-42) were evaluated at Hisar centre against Vikrant and found promising. Therefore, all these 20 genotypes were evaluated in SST during 2013-14, LST during 2014-15 and FYT during 2015-16. On the basis of above results, only five genotypes viz. HB12-8 (47.77q/ha), HB12-42 (47.70q/ha), HB12-15 (46.70q/ha), HB12-34 (46.14q/ha) and HB12-37 (45. 31q/ha) were found promising. These were further evaluated in multi-location trials at seven locations (i.e. Ambikpur, Delhi, Faizabad, Faridkot, Hisar, Ludhiana & Ranchi) for seed yield, quality and resistance against insect pest & disease in IVT and AVT during 2016-17 & 2017-18, respectively. Out of these, HB12-34 exhibited yield superiority over national checks,Vikrant and HFB-1 and free from insect pest and disease as well as low in vicine-covicine and high in protein content. Therefore, HB12-34 may be recommended for commercial cultivation in plain zone at national level