Genetic Variability and Selection for Grain Mold Resistance in F3 Progenies of Sorghum

The study was aimed to assess the genetic variability for yield and its components in the material comprised of 154 sorghum progenies of F3 generation obtained from eight crosses of resistant × susceptible type for grain mold. Out of six characters studied, highest phenotypic and genotypic co- efficient of variability coupled with high heritability estimates was exhibited by grain yield. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for plant height, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant. Hence selection can therefore be based on these characters and their phenotypic expression would be good indicator of their genotypic potentiality. The remaining traits recorded lower scores in the three genetic parameters considered in this study and therefore offered less scope for selection as they were much more under the influence of the environment. The best five F3 progenies viz., second and third progenies of I 12 × IS 25017, sixth and ninth progenies of MR 836 × B 58586, fourth progeny of GM 94008 × SRT 26B were early to flower as compared to the best check DSV 6. Seventh and ninth progenies of I 12 × IS 25017, sixth and thirteenth progenies of MR 836 × B 58586, third and seventh progenies of SRT 18 × MR 836; second third, fifth, sixth and seventh progenies of 296B × B 58586, fifth progeny of GM 94008 × SRT 26 B were high yielding and moderately resistance to grain mould. Hence, selection can be made in there progenies in further generations to have high yielding and grain mould tolerant genotypes. With respect to grain luster, lustrous grain group (49.35%) was the predominant, which was followed by medium luster (28.57%) and non lustrous (22.07%). Lustrous grains generally exhibit resistance to grain mould, as such lustrous grain shall not allow water drops to remain on grains during rains. Hence mould shall not grow on lustrous grains.