PERFORMANCE OF SORGHUM RECOMBINANT INBRED LINES (RIL) DEVELOPED for RAIN-FED AREAS OF SUDAN

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) is the most widely produced and consumed cereal crop in Sudan. However, productivity is low since the crop is produced in favorable and unfavorable environments where the crop suffers from drought stresses at different growth stages. In the present study, six sorghum inbred lines developed by local breeding program and two commercial checks were evaluated for grain yield potential, yield stability, some important agronomic characters and grain quality properties. Series variety trials were conducted at Elobeid and Suki, Damazin areas of Sudan, during three consecutive rainy seasons. The selected locations represent low, medium and high rainfall areas of Sudan. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design. The results revealed that mean squares of genotypes, seasons, locations, location x season, location x genotypes, season x genotypes and season x location x genotype interactions were highly significant (P=0.01) for grain yield. The sorghum genotypes Edo 34-23-4, Edo 26-18 and Edo 16-dwarf produced substantially higher grain yields than commercial checks and the trial mean. Their percentage yield increase ranged from 5% to 75% over commercial checks. The stability analysis revealed that the above mentioned Edo-genotypes had high yield potentials and were stable across a wide range of agricultural conditions. Moreover, the same Edo-lines showed early maturing compared to selected commercial checks and also the Edo-lines possessed good food grains and were market preferred and acceptable for making quality kisra (fermented sorghum pancake-like flatbread). The Edo developed lines also possess the acceptable grain quality in addition to moderate physical grain characteristics such as protein content, fat acidity and moisture content.