H. S. TALAVIYA, R. A. GAMI*, R. N. PATEL AND K. G. KUGASHIYA
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CPCA, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat), India
Centre for Millets Research, S.D. Agricultural University, Deesa-385 535 (Gujarat), India
Potato Research Station, S.D. Agricultural University, Deesa-385 535 (Gujarat), India
*(e-mail: ramangami@gamil.com)
(Received : 10 June 2023; Accepted : 22 June 2023)
SUMMARY
The present investigation was undertaken to reveal mean performance and percent heterosis level in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The 15 (F1) hybrids were produced using a half-diallel fashion. Analysis of the per se performances of the parents and their hybrid
offspring for various traits demonstrated that Malwan and IS 3338 among the parents and CSV 46F × IS 3338, IS 3265 × Malwan and CSV 46F × IS 3284 among the hybrids showed improved mean performance for the green fodder yield per plant, the dry fodder yield per plant and some of the traits that are associated with yield. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences due to genotypes for all the investigated traits, which explained why appropriate amounts of heterosis were represented in crosses for many of the traits that contribute to forage yield. Studies on heterosis demonstrated that the following factors were crucial forage yield components: total plant height (cm), number of leaf per plant, stem diameter (mm), leaf length of blade (cm), leaf width of blade (cm), leaf: stem ratio, green fodder yield per plant (g), and dry fodder yield per plant (g). Numerous hybrids were observed to have significant heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for various component traits. The F1 hybrids, CSV 46F × IS 3338 (74.08 & 208.13 %), CSV 46F × IS 3284 (152.40 & 152.41 %) and IS 3314 × IS 3284 (145.58 & 25.20 %) manifested significant and positive heterosis over better parent and the standard check CSV 46F for green fodder yield per plant. While CSV 46F × IS 3284, IS 3314 × IS 3284 and CSV 46F × IS 3338 registered highly significant and positive heterotic effects in terms of heterobeltiosis (i.e., 144.10, 104.36 and 83.06 %) and standard heterosis over check CSV 46F (i.e., 144.11, 20.98 and 179.54 %) for dry fodder yield per plant, respectively.
Key words: Mean performance, forage yield, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis