Estimation of Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Yield and Yield Components for some Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Genotypes under Irrigation in Sudan

Abstract

The study was carried out to estimate the amount of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in ten-advanced sorghum genotypes at Sinnar Agricultural Research Station Farm, Sinnar, Sudan, during two seasons 2012/13 and 2013/14. Ten sorghum lines provided by the Sorghum Breeding Program, the Agricultural Research Corporation were used in the study. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replicates. The measured traits were days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm), head exertion (cm), panicle length (cm), number of grains per head, 100 grain weight (g) and grain yield (kg/ha). Analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences (P < 0.01) for all characters among genotypes in each season and their combined, except for number of grains per head in the second season. On the average, number of days to 50% flowering ranged between (60 -80 days), plant height (97 -140 cm), head exertion (6 – 12 cm), panicle length (18 -25 cm), number of grains per head (1466 – 2242 grain), 100 grain weight (3 - 4 g) and grain yield (1283 -1882 kg/ha). The values of broad sense heritability of agronomic characters observed ranged from high to moderate, while with grain yield were low. High heritability was observed for plant height (89.0%) followed by days to 50% flowering (71.8%), 100- grains weight (66.6%), and panicle length (64.3%), respectively. Moderate heritability estimate was obtained for number of grains / head (41%), followed by head exertion (37.3%). Heritability estimate was low for grain yield (26.4%) of combined data. In generally, phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were higher than genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) in all traits for both seasons and also for combined analysis. The GCV and PCV were high for plant height and head exertion (25.5, 27.0% and 21.9, 35.9 %) respectively. The lowest GCV and PCV were obtained for days to 50% flowering and panicle length (9.3, 10.9 and 11.5, 14.3%) respectively of combined data. High genetic advance was observed for grain yield, (107.4, 230.7 and 192.6), at both seasons and combined, respectively. Genetic advance estimates were low for tested 100-grain weight (0.24, 0.45 and 0.32), at both seasons and combined analysis respectively.