<div>Background: Cluster bean was cultivated as a catch crop without external fertilization, solely to recharge the soil fertility and to harvest the residual nutrient after maize crop; clusterbean had been included as a succeeding crop. Doubling the fertilizer for maize would leave more residues. Even though maize is an exhaustive crop, since the nutrient uptake was need based, the excess fertilizers were effectively utilized by cluster bean.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field research was carried out at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore under irrigated conditions. Experimental trials were adopted to estimate the effect of high density with nutrient management practices on maize which influences the performance of succeeding cluster bean under maize-cluster bean cropping sequence during Rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 by using cultivar Pusa Naubahar. No separate treatments were adapted to cluster bean crop.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results of cluster bean sown after the high density of 1,33,333 plants ha-1 maize with nutrient level of 200 per cent RDF produced taller plants, higher drymatter production (636 and 607 kg/ha), increased yield attributes, higher yield (6.58 and 6.81 t/ha) and better economics (B:C ratio -1.87 and 1.94) in both the seasons. Post-harvest available nutrient status revealed that the higher population by closer spacing with increased fertilizer levels (T7) maintained its superiority during both the years. Moreover, this proved to be the most viable practice for production and residual nutrient uptake, by including pulse (cluster bean) as succeeding crop and soil health was effectively maintained by fixing atmospheric nitrogen by cluster bean.</div>

Effect of Maize High Density Planting on Cluster Bean Performance under Maize-cluster Bean Cropping Sequence

<div>Background: Indian vegetable oil economy is world&rsquo;s fourth largest after USA, China and Brazil. India was a net exporter of oilseeds and edible oils till 1960s but with stagnation in production and increasing demand for edible oils, India became net importer of edible oils by late-1970s. The government decided to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oilseeds through various policy/schemes such as NODP (1984-85), TMO (1986), OPDP (1991-92) was launched under the TMOP and ISOPOM (2004-05). Karnataka is the sixth largest state in area and production of oilseeds crops in India. Among the oilseed crops, sunflower accounts highest in area (36.71%) and production in state. Hence, the study was undertaken in Karnataka state with the objectives of assessing the growth and instability of sunflower production. 
 
Methods: The growth trends and instability analysis of sunflower was corrie out in Karnataka. The four divisions of the states viz., Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum and Gulbarga with 30 districts were selected for the study. The data pertaining to area, production and yield of sunflower were collected from many secondary sources and analysed for the period I: 1975-1995 (Pre-WTO), Period II: 1995-2015 (Post-WTO) and whole period: 1975-2015 by using CAGR and CDI Index.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align:justify"> 
Result: The growth pattern of sunflower showed a downward trend with respect of area, production and yield in all the four regions of the state during the period II than compared to period I. It might reflect the adverse effect of modern technology on production of sunflower in Karnataka state. The study indicated that the fluctuation in area, production and yield of sunflower were higher during post-WTO period when compared to pre-WTO period in across the districts and divisions. The mixed trend was observed during whole period with respect to growth and instability of sunflower production.</div>

<div>Growth Trends and Instability of Sunflower in Karnataka: An Inter-Districts and Inter-Divisional Analysis</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">The present experiments were carried out at Department of Horticulture, Dr. PDKV, Akola and Regional Research Centre, Amravati during the years 2013-14 and 2014-15. Fifty five genotypes of cluster bean were assessed for genetic divergence&nbsp;using Mahalanobis D2 technique. Among the characters studied in all four environmental conditions, gum content in seed&nbsp;(63.50%), plant spread (17.17%), number of primary branches per plant (4.65%), days to first flower (3.77%), hundred&nbsp;seed weight (2.09%), days to 50 % flowering(1.95%), seed to husk ratio (1.68%) and ten dry pod weight (1.35%) contributed&nbsp;95 percent to the total divergence. Genotypes were grouped into 8 clusters using Tocher&rsquo;s method. Cluster V was the&nbsp;largest group, involving 17 genotypes followed by twelve genotypes were grouped in cluster IV, eleven genotypes in&nbsp;cluster III and six genotype each in cluster I and II. The remaining solitary clusters (VI, VII and VIII) contained only one&nbsp;genotype each. The genotypes from the solitary clusters showed high divergence and useful in breeding. The intra-cluster&nbsp;distance ranged from 0 to 9.15. Cluster V possessed the highest intra-cluster distance (D2=9.15), followed by cluster IV&nbsp;(D2=6.34), cluster III (D2=4.71), cluster II (D2=3.31), and cluster I (D2=2.65). The clusters comprised of only one genotype&nbsp;had zero intra-cluster distance (cluster VI to VIII). The average inter-cluster distance reveled&nbsp; the maximum divergence(D&sup2;)&nbsp;between cluster V and VIII (D&sup2;=37.26) followed by cluster III and V (D&sup2;=29.92), cluster VI and VIII (D&sup2;=25.51). On the&nbsp;basis of inter cluster distance and performance observed in the present study a breeding programme involving genotypes&nbsp;for a specific character has been selected using cluster mean.</div>

Genetic divergence studies in cluster bean genotypes

<div>Thirty cluster bean genotypes collected from NBPGR Regional Station, Jodhpur was assessed to estimate the genetic divergence using Mahalanobis D2 analysis. The genotypes exhibited wide variability for all the characters studied. Thirty genotypes were grouped into V clusters. Cluster I consisted the maximum number of genotypes (12) followed by cluster II with 10 and cluster IV with 6 genotypes. Cluster III and V had only one genotype each. Intra cluster distance was maximum in cluster I with 12 genotypes indicating the high intra cluster diversity and inter cluster distance was highest between cluster V and cluster III (D2=174782.9) followed by cluster II and V (D2=115239.7), cluster III and IV (D2=78577.82), cluster I and V (D2 = 69202.2), cluster II and IV (D2 =41433.2). Mean number of branches, number of pod clusters/plant, number of pods/plant and pod yield/plant was highest for cluster V. Pod length, pod girth and pod weight were maximum in cluster III. Cluster IV and I was earliest to attain 50% flowering, days to first fruit set. Cluster III and II took minimum days for first harvest. Traits that contributed to divergence were pod yield/plant, days to 50% flowering and days to first fruit set. Hence while designing a crop improvement programme, parents for hybridization may be selected based on the inter cluster distance, mean performance of different traits and contribution of traits to divergence.</div>

<div>Genetic divergence analysis in cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.]</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Thirty wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated for 11 morphological and yield trait for analysis of character association (phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficient), path analysis and cluster analysis. The experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2014-2015 in a randomized block design with three replication. Days to 50% heading showed positive and significant correlation with &nbsp;flag leaf area and number of spiklet per ear; flag leaf area showed positive and significant correlation with 1000 grain weight; Plant height &nbsp;showed positive and significant correlation with &nbsp;spike length; spike length &nbsp;showed positive and significant correlation with &nbsp;1000 grain weight. Phenotypic path analysis showed &nbsp;biological yield and number of grain per spike had highly positive and direct effect on grain yield. Direct and highly positive effect on grain yield was shown by number of productive tillers, plant height, spike length, number of spikelet per spike genotypic path coefficient. Biological yield and grains yield per plant show highly positive and direct effect on yield with number of productive tillers, plant height, number of spikelet per spike and spike length. In &nbsp;cluster analysis the intra cluster distance ranged from 1.61 (cluster II) to 2.37 (cluster III and VI ). Thus the member of cluster II were &nbsp;least divergent and similarly the &nbsp;member of cluster III and IV were most divergent &nbsp;The maximum inter cluster distance was between cluster II and III followed by cluster IV &nbsp;and V , cluster VI and &nbsp;III and cluster VI and &nbsp;V that order therefore the accessions grouped in the five pair of cluster may be considered as most divergent.</div>

Evaluation of wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) for assessment of character association, path coefficient and cluster analysis

<div>Background: Watermelon is an important cucurbit with rich genetic diversity. A great proportion of this diversity remains largely unexploited in terms of mineral nutrient composition. 
 
Methods: The contents of eight different mineral nutrients were determined in eighty diverse genotypes. D2 statistics and principal component analysis were used to cluster genotypes and understand the underlying variations in mineral nutrient compositions of watermelon genotypes. 
 
Result: Large variations in the content of many mineral contents such as Na, K and Zn were recorded. D2 analysis placed the eighty watermelon genotypes into 8 distinct clusters. Cluster I comprised of maximum number of genotypes (68) followed by Cluster II (6). All other 6 clusters consisted of 1 genotype each. Among 8 clusters, cluster II showed highest intra cluster distance (342.14) followed by cluster I (279.07), whereas minimum intra cluster distance recorded in cluster III, cluster IV, cluster V, cluster VI, cluster VII and cluster VIII (0.00). Based on inter-cluster distance the maximum diversity was observed between clusters VIII and VI (3234.85). D2 statistics showed that potassium content contributed highest (25%) to divergence followed by magnesium content (22.7%) and manganese content (11%). Principal component analysis revealed that the first two principal components (PCs) together controlled 52.92% of total variability. Based on higher genetic distance among clusters and higher mean value of genotypes for nutritional traits, DWM 164, DWM 129, DWM 165, DWM 115, DWM 142, DWM 117, DWM 45, DWM 196 and DWM 12 could be exploited in breeding programme as potential donors for developing nutrient- rich watermelon varieties/hybrids.</div>

Genetic Diversity Analysis by D2 Clustering for Mineral Nutrient Composition of Watermelon Genotypes (Citrullus sp.)

Background: Twenty one diverse genotypes of vegetable cluster bean collected from different geographical locations of India were evaluated under randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications to find out the extent of genetic divergence through D2 and PCA (Principal component analysis) studies. 
 
Methods: The experiment was carried out at Post Graduate Research Farm under the Department of Horticulture, Centurion University, Odisha during the summer season of 2024. 
 
Result: Collected germplasm were grouped into 6 non-overlapping clusters. Upon analysis, cluster I, III, V and VI each had 4 numbers of genotypes while cluster II and IV had 3 and 2 genotypes respectively. No monogenotypic cluster was found. Cluster I and VI had the largest inter-cluster distance, followed by cluster I and V. Cluster number VI exhibited highest mean values for most of the traits under study. So, all the genotypes which were categorized under cluster I, V and VI can effectively be utilized for hybridization purpose as there is a chance of getting maximum heterosis in the resultant hybrids. Among the traits, days to 50% flowering followed by green pod yield per plant contributed maximum towards the total divergence. From the PCA studies it is observed that first eigen root had maximum variation. First 3 PC axes collectively interpreted 96.99% variation.

Genetic Divergence Analysis in Some Vegetable Cluster Bean Genotypes

Background: Mungbean is a warm-season crop and its ability to grow quickly, allowing adaptation to multiple cropping systems and crop rotations. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis are the useful tool to explain the diversity among the genotypes, identification of superior genotypes and characters forfuture breeding programs. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Farm, (AEM), Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, RKMVERI, Narendrapur, West Bengal, for summer, 2021 and 2022 in a randomized block design. 
 
Result: Principal components i.e. PC1 to PC3 which eigen value more than one extracted from the data contributed 67.45% from the total variation. Cluster analysis revealed that the maximum contribution for the total divergence was recorded for number of branches per plant (25.7%), seed yield per plant (14.5%), plant height (13.8%) and number of pods per plant (12%). Genotypes had classified into six clusters and their intra and inter cluster distance showed the genetic diversity between them. The highest genotypes i.e. nine had in the cluster 1 followed by cluster 5 contributed six genotypes, cluster 2, 4 and 6 represented four genotypes each and the cluster 3 had three genotypes. The identified diverse genotypes like AKM 96-2, IPDI-539, PRATIKSHA NEPAL, SUKETI-1, TMB 96-2, SAMRAT, SIKHA and VIRAT showed high contribution to total diversity for number of branches per plant, plant height, number of pods per plant and number of primary branches per plant could be used in future breeding program.

Principal Component and Cluster Analysis in Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

Background: Cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub] has a special contribution among the pulse crops and recognized as one of the important commercial crop of arid and semi-arid region. Being a leguminous crop it is a source to replenish nutrients especially nitrogen of the low fertility soils and enhances the soil fertility and also can withstand moisture stress. Various biotic and abiotic constrains in cluster bean were responsible for lowering average yield of crop as compared to its potential yield. Thus, it becomes imperative to sustain the productivity of clusterbean by gathering the information and behavior of disease distribution pattern in the zone. The current study therefore greatly emphasized to find out the occurrence and distribution pattern of diseases in major cluster bean growing areas grid region of northern Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: An intensive survey was conducted with an objective to access the prevalence and intensity of diseases of cluster bean in sixteen village of three district of grid region of Madhya Pradesh between 2018-19 and 2019-20.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Investigation in respect of survey conducted concludes that alternaria leaf blight, dry root rot and bacterial leaf blight are the major concern diseases of cluster bean which directly affect the yield (Chand and Gandhi, 1978). Alternaria leaf blight (19.90%) and Bacterial leaf blight (11.60%) disease intensity was maximum in Gwalior district while maximum dry root rot (4.25%) incidence&nbsp; was recorded in Morena district.&nbsp;

Occurrence and Distribution of Cluster Bean Diseases in Grid Region of Madhya Pradesh

Cluster bean is an important legume cultivated mostly on marginal and sub marginal lands of arid and semi-arid regions. Overall, India produces around 80% of global cluster bean production. It is cultivated on more than 4 m ha in India, Rajasthan alone accounts for &nbsp;around 80% of the area and production. Owing to its demand in the international market, it has been introduced in the non-traditional growing areas like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Further, its cultivation is also being taken up under irrigated conditions during summer. Cluster bean seed (endosperm) is a source of a natural hydrocolloid (galactomannan/&lsquo;guar gum&rsquo;). The gum has unique abilities with multiple commercial applications like textile, printing, paper, cosmetics, mining, pharmaceutical, petroleum, natural gas, well drilling and oil industries. Green pods are nutritionally rich and are routinely consumed as vegetable especially in northern and western parts of India. Additionally, cluster bean has been reported to have beneficial effects when cultivated as an intercrop. Cluster bean meal (high protein content) obtained from seed coat and germ cell is an excellent feed for monogastric animals. Cluster bean cultivars with high gum content (&gt;32%) and viscosity (4000-5000 cps) are more preferred for export. The value of cluster bean exports from India has increased from Rs 242 crores (1994) to Rs 2100 crores (2012-13). This review presents the various aspects of cluster bean cultivation and its emergence as an important industrial crop.&nbsp;

Effect of Maize High Density Planting on Cluster Bean Performance under Maize-cluster Bean Cropping Sequence

Growth Trends and Instability of Sunflower in Karnataka: An Inter-Districts and Inter-Divisional Analysis

Genetic divergence studies in cluster bean genotypes

Genetic divergence analysis in cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.]

Evaluation of wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) for assessment of character association, path coefficient and cluster analysis

Genetic Diversity Analysis by D² Clustering for Mineral Nutrient Composition of Watermelon Genotypes (Citrullus sp.)

Genetic Divergence Analysis in Some Vegetable Cluster Bean Genotypes

Principal Component and Cluster Analysis in Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

Occurrence and Distribution of Cluster Bean Diseases in Grid Region of Madhya Pradesh

Cluster bean [cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.], an important industrial arid legume: A review