Studies on Genetic Divergence and Character Association in Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.)

Abstract

Degree Awarding University: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut- 250110 (U.P) The present investigation entitled "Studies on Genetic Divergence and Character Association in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L)" involving forty genotypes was undertaken to examine the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, coiTelation coefficient, path coefficient analysis and genetic divergence. All the forty sorghum genotypes were tested in randomized block design with 3 replications during Kharif 2014. Observations were recorded for days t~ 50% fl?wering, ~lant height (em), leaf breadth, leaf length, leaves per plant, leaf area (em ),stem gnih ( cm),mternode length (em), nodes per plant, leaf stem ratio, green fodder yield and grain yield per plant. Analysis of variance revealed substantial amount of variability among the genotypes for all the characters under study, indicated wide spectrum of variability among the genotypes. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for leaf area, green fodder yield and plant height. Showing the influence of additive gene action on the characters hence, may be useful for effective selection. Con·elation and path analysis indicated that effective improvement in grain yield may be obtained by leaves per plant, stem girth, leaf length, leaf area and leaf breadth also can be considered as guidelines for further breeding work. Genotype from the same geographical region fell into different clusters and vice-versa. This suggest~d that selections of parents for hybridization should be on genetic diversity rather than on the geographical areas. Green fodder yield followed by grain yield per plant leaf stem ratio, leaf length, days to 50% flowering, leaf breadth (em), contributed most towards divergence. Divergence study suooested that crosses involving genotypes like UP chari-2, Pusa chari-9, ICSV-700, Pusa ch~i-1 , S-241, S-199, Rajasthan-1, CPVI-1724, GFS-4, UP chari-5, Pu?sa ch_ari-6, HC-308 SL-44 G-48 Pant chari-5 for getting desired segregants from l;>reedmg pomt of v1ew