General and specific combining ability in dual purpose sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the general combining ability of sorghum lines and the specific combining ability of the hybrids for yield and its related traits. Three fertility restorer lines, ten male-sterile lines, and their hybrids from line x tester mating design crosses were evaluated in RBD with three replications in four environments. Analysis was performed using the Griffing’s method of diallel (1956) for individual environments and Daljit Singh (1979) for over the environments. There was a significant effect of GCA and SCA for most of the traits evaluated, indicating the participation of additive or domi­nant genes in inheritance. The restorer line SPV 1822 and five male sterile lines ICSA 29003, ICSA 29004, ICSA 29011, ICSA 29014 and ICSA 29016 show potential for use as parents in sorghum breeding programs. Crosses ICSA 29004 × SPV 1822 and ICSA 29012 × SPV 1822 were identified for multilocation testing.