Genetic variability, character association and path analysis in forage sorghum

Abstract

Estimates analysis of variance for parents and crosses showed highly differed significantly for all the ten characters i.e., days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf breadth, leaf length, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids and green fodder yield. Parents vs crosses were found highly significant for all the traits, indicated that wide genotypic differences among the parental lines and F1’s hybrids. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed (more than 25%) for the attributes viz., for leaf breadth, stem girth, leaf area, total soluble solids and green fodder yield, suggested that there is a possibility of improvement of fodder yield through direct selection. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for the characters i.e., days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf breadth, leaf length, stem girth, leaf area, total soluble solids and green fodder yield, suggesting that the genes governing these characters may have additive effect. Green fodder yield exhibited significant stable and positive correlation with plant height, leaf length, stem girth, leaves per plant and leaf area at genotypic and phenotypic level, suggesting that selection of these characters may be practiced for gain higher fodder yield in forage sorghum. stem girth displayed high order of direct effect on green fodder yield per plant followed by leaf stem ratio, leaf breadth, leaves per plant and days to 50% flowering at phenotypic and genotypic level, indicated that these characters may contribute for increased fodder yield in forage sorghum.