Heterosis studies for yield and its attributing traits in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)
S. K. JAIN and P. R. PATEL
Sorghum Research Station,
Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University,
Deesa 385535 (BK) Gujarat, India
(E mail- skjain_sdau@yahoo.co.in)
(Received: 26 August 2013; Accepted: October 2013)
SUMMARY
The present investigation in sorghum {Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench} was carried out to study the magnitude of heterosis, heterobeltiosis and economic heterosis in thirty five crosses (F1s) by crossing the nine different parents in 9 x 9 diallel fashion (excluding reciprocals). Observations were recorded on 9 characters viz., days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of leaves/plant, leaf length, leaf breadth, grain yield/plant, stover yield/plant and 100- seed weight. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes, viz., parents, crosses and parents v/s crosses for all the characters. The crosses SPV 2110 x GFS 5, GFS 5 x GJ 39 and SPV 2113 x CSV 15 showed high heterosis over mid parent, better parent and economic heterosis for grain yield per plant, stover yield per plant and other component traits. In addition to this, crosses CSV 15 x SSV 84, SPV 2113 X SPV 1616, SPV 2110 X GJ 39 and GJ 39 X SSV 84 showed good heterosis for stover yield and their contributing traits. Thus, these crosses in future can be exploited easily for dual purpose attributes by conventional breeding procedure (Pedigree method).
Key words: Sorghum bicolor, heterosis, heterobeltiosis,economic heterosis, grain yield, stover yield