Variability and Correlation Between Yield and Yield Components in Eleven Genotypes of Forage Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

Abstract

The study was conducted at Sudan University of Science and Technology, College of Agricultural Studies, Shambat, in the period from July to October 2009, to study variability and correlation between yield and yield components in eleven genotypes of forage sorghum. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected for six parameters namely fresh weight t/ ha, dry weight t/ha, leaf to stem ratio, shoot to root ratio, number of tillers per plant and days to 50% flowering. The phenotypic and genotypic variances, phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic and genotypic correlation between different characters were determined. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) for shoot to root ratio, leaf to stem ratio and days to 50% flowering. On the other hand non-significant differences were detected for dry weight, fresh weight and number of tillers. Also the results showed in phenotypic variances highest values at fresh weight and the lowest value at stem ratio on the other hand genotypic variances the highest value at 50% flowering and the lowest value at number of tillers. 9 In phenotypic coefficient of variation the highest value at shoot to root ratio and the lowest value at number of tillers. On the other hand in genotypic coefficient of variation the highest value at shoot to root ratio and the lowest value at fresh weight, respectively. The results showed positive and highly significant phenotypic correlation between fresh weight and number of tillers also positive and significant genotypic correlation was obtained between fresh weight and dry weight.