Heterosis and combining ability for grain yield and its components in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate heterosis in F1 hybrids of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] with respect to grain yield and its components using thirty-six hybrids. The hybrids and their parents were evaluated to assess the combining ability and gene action governing the quantitative traits. Among the hybrids, CSV 15 x SPV 1521 recorded maximum grain yield with 90, 86.89 and 33.45 per cent heterosis over the mid parent, better parent and standard check respectively. This cross found to be superior in terms of days to 50 percent flowering, plant height, number of grains per panicle and grain yield per plant. It was followed by CSV 15 x SPV 1531, CO 26 x SPV 1531 and CO(S) 28 x SPV 1531. The estimates of general combining ability and specific combining ability revealed the presence of non-additive gene action for all the traits under study.