Phenotypic variability analysis of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) germplasm for trait-specific improvement Asif M. Iqbal, Mehraj ud Din Sofi, Bashir Ahmad Alie, Sher A. Dar, Mudasir Hafiz Khan, Gulam Hassan Mir, Niyaz Ahmad Dar, Tanveer Ahmad Ahngar, Syed Sheeraz Mahdi, Shabir A Bangroo, Uzma Fayaz, Zahida Rashid, Majid Rahid, Firdos Ahmad Nehvi Medicinal Plants, 2025 A comprehensive examination of 264 saffron (Crocus sativus L.) germplasm lines was done to examine phenotypic variability in agro-morphological features, essential quality elements (crocin, picrocrocin, safranal), and resistance to corm rot. Significant variation was reported for most morphological variables, with corm width and corm weight recording the largest coefficients of variation, while flower and leaf quantity showed fairly limited range. Among quality traits, crocin content displayed the largest variability. Strong additive genetic control and appropriateness for clonal selection were shown by high heritability combined with significant genetic advancement for leaf length, stigma yield, and corm weight. PCA indicated four significant components explaining 64.01% of total variance, with PC1 and PC2 predominantly influenced by floral features and corm qualities, respectively. Screening against corm rot under in vitro conditions indicated incubation times ranging from 2–5 days, and twenty-two genotypes displayed highly resistant reactions. Several excellent genotypes such as SRS-Saf-144, SRS-Saf-199, and SRS-Saf-206 were recorded for their combined performance in yield, quality, and disease resistance. Overall, the study shows significant exploitable variety in the saffron germplasm, offering a strong basis for clonal selection, trait-specific modification, and the creation of high-yielding, disease-resistant saffron cultivars.
Indian saffron B. A. Alie, M. H. Khan, N. A. Dar, F. A. Nehvi, G. H. Mir, A. M. I. Qureshi, M. D. Sofi, M. T. Ali Handbook of Spices in India 75 Years of Research and Development, 2024
Combining ability of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines for agronomic, yield and quality traits in temperate hilly regions of Kashmir, India Shaik Faheem Akhtar, M. Altaf Wani, Tadar Jamja, Madhu Saatu, Ruthy Tabing, Akshay Uike, E. G. Rao, A. S. Chandan, Pooja Kumari, Saika Nabi, Mohd. Tahir, Asif M. Iqbal Qureshi Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 2024 The combining ability provides insightful information about the genetic mechanisms that govern the inheritance of traits and enables the identification of potential inbred lines ; and promising hybrid combinations for crop improvement. However, most studies on quality protein maize (QPM) have focused on nutritional aspects, and very few are focused on their combining ability. In addition, studies on the adaptation, hybrid performance and stability of QPM in temperate areas remain scarce.Therefore, the present study sought to examine the combining ability of eight QPM inbred lines (QPM13, QPM14, QPM20, QPM21, QPM49, QPM50, VQL1, and VQL17). These 8 lines were subjected to half-diallel mating. Consequently, 28 crosses obtained were further evaluated in the temperate region of Kashmir against one check and parents in the RCBD, with three replications in a single row.The results revealed significant variances for general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for most of the recorded agronomic, yield, and quality traits. The crosses QPM49 × VQL1, QPM 13 × QPM14, QPM21 × VQL17, QPM13 × QPM50 and QPM50 × VQL17 were found to perform best in terms of earliness in tasselling (-1.842), silking (-1.204), days to mature (-2.654), highest yield (12.875 g)and protein content (1.113%), respectively. These promising crosses can be viable material sources for future QPM variety development programs in temperate regions.
Genetic variability assessment of indigenous and exotic saffron germplasm through morpho-agronomic characterization at Jammu and Kashmir, India Asif Mohd Iqbal, Ajaz Ahmad Lone, Mudasir H. Khan, Mehraj uddin Sofi, Bashir A. Alie, Mir Ghulam Hassan, Niyaz A. Dar, Azra Khan, Uzma Fayaz, Sher A. Dar, Firdos A. Nehvi Plant Genetic Resources Characterisation and Utilisation, 2023 The present study analysed a total of 272 saffron (Crocus sativusL.) genotypes using multivariate analysis. We carefully observed and recorded information about the floral, morphological and corm attributes. Significant variations were observed among the genotypes for all the traits, indicating a high level of variability and suggesting a great potential for saffron improvement. The phenotypic variances were found to be greater than the estimated genotypic variances. Descriptive data on various morphological traits revealed significant differences in the frequency of phenotype classes as well as a wide distribution range. The high heritability estimates were observed in average number of daughter corms per plant (ANDCPP), initial weight of corms (IWC g), no. of buds/corm (NBPC), – no. of leaves in main sprout, (NLMS), number of sprouted buds per corm (NSBpC) and total number of leaves (TNL), whereas average weight of daughter corms per plant (AWBCPP), corm diameter (CDcm), pistal length (PL) cm, style length (STYLcm), fresh weight of pistals per plant (FWOPPPmg) and stigma length (STML cm), revealed medium sense of heritability. The traits dry weight of pistals per plants (DWOPPP mg), inner tepal width (ITW cm), leaf length (LLcm), number of flowers per corm (NFpC), outer tepal length (OTLcm), parianth length with tube (PLWT cm) and weight of stigma (WSTG mg) exhibited low broad-sense heritability. Principal component analysis (PCA) divulged that the first eight component characters had an eigenvalue greater than one with a contributory cumulative variance of 66.15% to the total variance, while as rest of the 16 components contributed 33.85% of total variation in a set of 272 genotypes of saffron. The eigenvalues for yield attributing traits for significant PCs ranged from 5.48 (PC1) to 1.03(PC8). The current study has revealed that there was a sufficient variability in a set of saffron germplasm lines which forms the basis for performance-based clonal selection. Moreover, identified elite genotypes based on saffron yield and corm attributes could be used in the saffron breeding programme for the development of saffron varieties.
Analysis and farmers’ perception of climate change in the Kashmir Valley, India S. Sheraz Mahdi, B. S. Dhekale, Rukhsana Jan, M. Anwar Bhat, Ashaq Hussain, Intikhab Aalum Jehangir, Najeebul Rehman Sofi, Latief Ahmed, Asif M. Iqbal Qureshi, Aziz Mujtaba Aezum, Shabir A. Bangroo, Owais Ali Wani, F. A. Bahar, S. K. Mishra Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 2022
Farmer’s perception of climate change and adaptation strategies under temperate environmental conditions of Kashmir, India S. SHERAZ MAHDI, RUKHSANA JAN, INTIKHAB AALUM JEHANGIR, ASHAQ HUSSAIN, M. ANWAR BHAT, BHAGYASHREE DHEKALE, LATIEF AHMED, NAJEEBUL REHMAN SOFI, S.A. BANGROO, ASIF M.I. QURESHI, OWAIS ALI WANI, F.A. BAHAR Journal of Agrometeorology, 2021 A study was conducted in nine different topographical locations of Kashmir valley to know the perception of the farmers about climate change. Adaptation and mitigation strategies adopted by the farmers were also documented over a specified period viz., 1980-2019. Results from the observed data revealed warming trends in all seasons, however, winter and spring season temperatures have shown statistically significant increasing trends at the rate of 0.040C/year. Analysis of seasonal and annual precipitation data shows a decreasing trend at the rate of -4.5 mm/ year. The farmers in the study areas had perceived that the climate has changed for the last four decades. Increasing temperature, frequent droughts and less snowfall were the main visual parameters experienced by the farmers. About 30-35% of the farmers have adopted different strategies by default to mitigate ill effects of climate change. However, the majority of the farmers (70%) have not adopted any strategy to cope up with the impacts of climate change. Farmers (>90%) have stressed on provision for an early warning system, timely supply of inputs, provision of financial support and nutrients for soil enrichment as viable options to combat the ill effects of climate change.
Insilco identification and characterization of superoxide dismutase gene family in Brassica rapa Asif M. Iqbal Qureshi, Mehraj Uddin Sofi, N.A. Dar, M.H. Khan, S.S. Mahdi, Zahoor A. Dar, Shabir Bangroo, Hamed A. El-Serehy, Daniel Ingo Hefft, Simona Mariana Popescu Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2021 Superoxide Dismutase SODs are defense associated proteins that detoxify ROS and primarily serve as scavengers. They have been described in numerous plant species, but their in-depth characterization in Brassica rapa has not been reported. Therefore, the present investigation on genome wide study of SOD gene family was conducted to identify BrSOD genes, their domain-based organization, gene structure analysis, phylogenetic analysis, intron-exon structure of genes and expression analysis. The sequence characterization of Super oxide dismutase gene family in Brassica rapa, their syntenic associateship of conserved motifs and phylogenetic correlationship, prediction of cis-elements and determing the expression analysis in distinct tissues namely plant callus, root, stem, leaf, flower, and silique under abiotic conditions have been analysed using different software’s. The study on SOD gene family identified 17 BrSOD genes which were grouped into eight BrCu-ZnSODs and nine BrFe-MnSODs domain-based organization. Furthermore, the conserved character of BrSODs were confirmed by intron-exon organisation, motif arrangements and domain architectural investigations. Expression analysis using RNA Sequence data of different developmental stages proclaimed that genes were manifested in all six tissues with an exception of BrCu-ZnSOD3, which was not manifested in roots; however, whose transcript was detected in all other tested tissues. The study has genome wide insight into the occurrence and functional specifications of BrSOD gene family in Brassica rapa that can be potentially utilized in breeding program for resilience to climate change and abiotic stresses tolerance Brassica variety.
Identification for surrogate drought tolerance in maize inbred lines utilizing high-throughput phenomics approach Zahoor A. Dar, Showket A. Dar, Jameel A. Khan, Ajaz A. Lone, Sapna Langyan, B. A. Lone, R. H. Kanth, Asif Iqbal, Jagdish Rane, Shabir H. Wani, Saleh Alfarraj, Sulaiman Ali Alharbi, Marian Brestic, Mohammad Javed Ansari Plos One, 2021 Screening for drought tolerance requires precise techniques like phonemics, which is an emerging science aimed at non-destructive methods allowing large-scale screening of genotypes. Large-scale screening complements genomic efforts to identify genes relevant for crop improvement. Thirty maize inbred lines from various sources (exotic and indigenous) maintained at Dryland Agriculture Research Station were used in the current study. In the automated plant transport and imaging systems (LemnaTec Scanalyzer system for large plants), top and side view images were taken of the VIS (visible) and NIR (near infrared) range of the light spectrum to capture phenes. All images were obtained with a thermal imager. All sensors were used to collect images one day after shifting the pots from the greenhouse for 11 days. Image processing was done using pre-processing, segmentation and flowered by features’ extraction. Different surrogate traits such as pixel area, plant aspect ratio, convex hull ratio and calliper length were estimated. A strong association was found between canopy temperature and above ground biomass under stress conditions. Promising lines in different surrogates will be utilized in breeding programmes to develop mapping populations for traits of interest related to drought resilience, in terms of improved tissue water status and mapping of genes/QTLs for drought traits.
Saffron: A therapeutic and prophylactic nutrition for human population M. H. Khan, B. A. Alie, A. M. I. Qureshi, G. H. Mir, N. A. Dar, Shahid Qayoom, Tauseef Ali, S. A. Dar, A. A. Lone, Z. A. Dar, M. Ahmad, M. A. Bhat, F. A. Sheikh Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Healthcare and Industrial Applications, 2021
Functional analysis of glutamate receptor-like channels in plants Asif M. Iqbal Qureshi, A Dar Zahoor, Mehraj uddin Sofi, Aijaz A. Lone, I. Abidi, Syed S. Mahdi, A. Gowhar, Mudasir H. Khan, M. Altaf Wani, Aazima Hyder, Tehmeena Bano Calcium Transport Elements in Plants, 2021
Effect of planting method and nutrient management practices on seed yield of brown sarson (Brassica rapa L.) Indian Journal of Ecology, 2017
Marker assisted development of effective fertility restorers suitable for use in temperate three-line hybrids Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 2016
Farmer’s participatory varietal selection in Japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Kashmir valley Sabrao Journal of Breeding and Genetics, 2016
