Genetic Analysis for Yield and Yield Components in Grain Sorghum Sorghum bicolor L.

Proper choice of source populations contributes to the ultimate success of selection for genetic improvement. The source population should possess the most desirable alleles at as many loci as possible for intrapopulation improvement. Significant differences among selfed progenies within SPV-104 x S-512 were observed for all traits, while significant differences among selfed progenies within SPV-126 were noted for grain yield per plant, panicle length, 100-grain weight and days to flowering. Progenies developed from SPV-104 x S-512 population had higher estimates of σ2 G for number of branches per panicle, plant height and days to flowering, showing that selection to improve these traits would be more effective in progenies of SPV-104 x S-512. On the other hand, progenies developed from SPV-126 population had higher estimates of σ2 G for panicle length, indicating that progenies from this population would have better genetic gain for this trait. Comparable estimates of genetic variance were found for grain yield per plant and 100-grain weight, indicating that genetic improvement of the source populations is expected to produce similar genetic gains for these two traits. Therefore, selfed progenies developed from both source populations could be used to develop superior genotypes for immediate use in the production system