Genetic variability and character association among grain yield and their component traits in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Abstract

Sorghum is one of the important coarse cereal crops being cultivated world-wide, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Though the crop is cultivated widely, the production and productivity are still not as expected to its potential. To overcome this problem and to develop high yielding sorghum genotypes, it is highly essential to utilize the existing genetic variability prevalent among the germplasm accessions. In the present study, a set of 102 germplasm accessions were evaluated for 13 yields and their contributing traits to assess the variability and character association among them. The study clearly indicated the presence of a considerable level of variation for yield and its attributing traits among the genotypes. High PCV and GCV were observed for the traits viz., stem diameter, flag leaf length, flag leaf breadth, flag leaf area, the number of leaves, leaf length, leaf breadth, panicle length, panicle length of branches, test weight and grain yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for the traits viz., plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf breadth, flag leaf length, flag leaf breadth, flag leaf area, panicle length, panicle length of branches, the number of leaves, the number of nodes per plant, days to 50 per cent flowering, test weight and grain yield per plant. Association studies revealed a positive and significant association of stem diameter, flag leaf length, flag leaf breadth, flag leaf area, panicle length and test weight on grain yield per plant. Path analysis revealed that test weight followed by days to 50 per cent flowering, panicle length, flag leaf length, flag leaf area and leaf breadth had a direct positive effect on grain yield per plant. Hence, from this study, it is suggested that the genotypes with high grain yield, test weight, flag leaf area and panicle length could be more promising to yield better hybrids in a further breeding programme.

Keywords

• sorghum
• germplasm accessions
• variability
• association analysis
• grain yield