GENETIC DIVERGENCE IN RABI SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

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Date
2017
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Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out during rabi 2016-2017 at Agricultural college farm, Bapatla with 50 genotypes of rabi Sorghum to elicit information on the nature and extent of the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, character association and the magnitude of direct and indirect effects of yield component traits with grain yield per plant through path coefficient analysis and genetic divergence. The observations were recorded on ten characters viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm), total no. of leaves, leaf length (cm), leaf width (cm), ear head length (cm), ear head width (cm), 100 grain weight (g), harvest index (%) and grain yield per plant (g). Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied indicating that the data generated from the above diverse material shall represent wide variability. The genotypic coefficients of variation for all the characters studied were lesser than the phenotypic coefficients of variation indicating the masking effects of the environment. High PCV coupled with high GCV observed for ear head length and grain yield per plant indicate the presence of wider variability for these traits in the population studied. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for plant height, leaf length, ear head length, ear head width, 100 grain weight, grain yield per plant and harvest index indicate operation of additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits and improvement in these characters is possible through simple selection. Correlation study indicated that plant height, leaf length, ear head length, ear head width and harvest index had significant positive association with grain yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels and simultaneous improvement of these traits along with grain yield per plant is possible. The path analysis indicated that ear head length, ear head width exerted high direct positive effect on grain yield per plant. As direct effects of these parameters are high, direct selection through these characters for improvement in grain yield per plant should be rewarding. Thus, the present study revealed that the major emphasis should be laid on selection process by direct selection for improvement through component yield traits such as plant height, leaf length, ear head length, ear head width and harvest index directly contributed for increased realisation. From the studies of genetic divergence, suggestions were made to attempt crosses after confirming good general combiner between genotypes of cluster VII (EC 489088) and cluster VIII (EC 489372) followed by cluster cluster VII (EC 489088) and IV (EC 489101) to obtain better and desirable segregants.
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D5434
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