Genetic Variability and Association of Fodder Yield, Sugar Content and Their Attributes in Forage Sorghum

摘要

Investigations on genetic variability and association among quantitative traits of foragernimportance were conducted in 320 lines of sorghum derived from 15 different crosses. Greaterrnvariation was recorded for green fodder yield, dry matter content, and sugar content, leaf to stemrnratio and percent senescence. Heritability was higher for stem girth, leaf length and leaf to stem ratiornwhile expected genetic advance was maximum for green fodder yield, leaf to stem ratio, dry matterrnand sugar content. Significant positive relationship between green fodder yield and plant height,rnnumber of green leaves, leaf length, leaf width and stem girth was observed. Sugar content wasrnhigher in tall, late flowering, more leafy and wider leaved genotypes. Path analysis for green fodderrnyield indicated considerable direct effects of stem girth, leaf width, leaf length, number of greenrnleaves and plant height. Sugar content had adequate direct influences of days to flowering, plantrnheight, and number of green leaves, leaf width and dry matter content. Green fodder yield and leafrnto stem ratio were found to be attractive for selection to obtain maximum genetic improvement.