Genetic variability studies in M4 generation of mutagenized population of yellow pericarp sorghum for yield and yield contributing traits (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

Abstract

The experiment comprised of 30 yellow pericarp sorghum mutants of M4 generation derived from selfed seed of individual panicles of M3 generation from each gamma irradiation-treatment i.e. 6 mutants from each treatment viz., 100 Gy, 200 Gy, 300 Gy, 400 Gy and 500 Gy along with a parental control ‘Udgir Piwali’ and 3 checks, was conducted at Parbhani (M.S.) during rabi, 2024-25 towards understanding the extent of variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and its associated traits. The analysis of variance indicated significant differences among the mutants for all the traits examined. Results indicated relatively higher mean performance in checks for most of the characters studied including grain production. The GCV and PCV estimates showed wide variation for most of the characters studied in segregating M4 generation. High heritability, medium GCV, PCV and GA were observed for grain yield per plant and its most of the component-traits. Among the fourteen characters evaluated, several yellow sorghum mutant genotypes namely, 100Gy-4, 200Gy-3, 200Gy-2, 300Gy-5, 300Gy-6, 400Gy-1, 400Gy-2 and 500Gy-6; consistently exhibited superior performance over multiple agromorphological traits. In addition, mutants viz., 300Gy-5, 200Gy-1, 200Gy-6, 400Gy-2, 400Gy-3 and 200Gy-5 demonstrated specific promise for drought tolerance-related physiological attributes. Such genotypes can be effectively utilized as potential donor parents in empirical breeding programs aimed at developing improved yellow pericarp sorghum varieties or hybrids with better nutritional and agronomical potential.