Combining Ability and Heterosis of Locally Developed Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. (Moench) Hybrids for Grain Yield and Forage

Abstract

This study was conducted to estimate the magnitude of heterosis and combining abilities (general and specific) for forage and grain yield performance of sorghum hybrids. However, information on heterotic performance and combing ability of Ethiopian elite sorghum lines is for biomass and yield performance is inadequate. ANOVA revealed, mean squares had signifying substantial amount of variability amongst genotypes for most traits. Parents and Hybrids are significantly different for all traits except thousand grain weight, number of green leaves and panicle width. This revealed that hybrids can have better yield than OPVs. Hybrids, 106x94, 106x90, 106x102, 107x99 and 107x105 were found maximum heterotic hybrids for yield as compare to check. The estimations of parental GCA effects showed that female 106 and males 79, 96, 94 and 81 were good general combiners for yield and related traits. Based on perse performance, heterotic response and combining ability, female parent 106 and male parents 94, 102 and 90 were found most performed. Those parental lines could be used for further hybrid and germplasm development.

Keywords: Combining ability, GCA, Heterosis, Biomass, Hybrid, SCA, Sorghum

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-23-01

Publication date: December 31^st 2022