GENERATION MEAN ANALYSIS OF GRAIN YIELD AND SOME PANICLE CHARACTERS IN TWO EXOTIC X INDIAN RABI SORGHUM CROSSES

Abstract

Generation mean analysis was carried out in six generations of two crosses involving an exotic (E 36-1), a local (M 35-1), and an improved variety (SPV 86) of rabi sorghum in respect of grain yield and its components. The scaling testand joint scaling tests indicated presence of nonallelic interaction for all the traits in both crosses except for primaries per panicle. Generation mean analysis showed importance of dominance gene effect, followed by . additive X additive and dominance X dominance with a small proportion of additive gene effect. Digenic interactions were completely absent for primaries per panicle while a still higher order gene interaction was indicated for panicle width in the cross E36-1 X M 35-1. Breeding methods which can simultaneously exploit both additive and nonadditive gene effects are suggested.