Winter season adaptation features in sorghum

摘要

The area under winter sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in Maharashtra has been stable for the last three decades, as the crop is equally valued for its fodder and grain. The last six quinquenneum witnessed a 30 percent rise in winter-season productivity (Nerkar 1998) from 0.48 t ha~(-1) to 0.62 t ha~(-1) at national level. Winter sorghum hybrids will have a tangible impact only when both the male-sterile (A) and restorer (R) lines have seasonal adaptability. A close look of parental lines showsthat they mostly include rainy-season lines with very few winter-adapted ones. CSH 13R has significant yield superiority over M 35-1 but is highly vulnerable to shoot fly (Atherigona soccata Rondani), and low temperatures and has inferior grain quality.CSH 15R is more adaptable than CSH 13R, through not equal to M 35-1. Hence, the present study of new male-sterile lines and restorers was inaugurated.