Heterosis studies for grain mould resistance parameters in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Grain mould resistance studies in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)” was carried out to estimate the amount of heterosis and heterobeltiosis, for selection of potential crosses and to ascertain the nature of gene action operating in inheritance of some important quantitative characters associated with grain mould resistance. In the present study, a set of 10 x 10 diallel consisting of F1 & F2 progenies, along with their parents were evaluated to study the inheritance of some mould resistance traits and to identify useful crosses. The highest estimates of heterobeltiosis were upto-80.00 per cent for field grade score, -67.74 per cent for threshed grade score, 41.84 per cent for grain hardness, 11.88 per cent for grain density, 36.10 per cent for germination, -77.95 per cent for glume coverage, -44.94 per cent for water absorption capacity, -81.01 for fungal load of Fusarium spp., -85.39 for Curvularia spp. and -85.31 for fungal load of other spp.