Abstract:
Eleven entries (consisting of lines, testers and hybrids), were used to study general, specific combining ability and heterosis. The male and female lines were mated in a Line x Tester mating Design. In the study, analysis of variance showed significant difference was observed for yield and agronomic traits among the entries. This signified that they characters studied can be selected for genetic improvement. Estimation of general combining ability (GCA) and Specific combining ability (SCA) were obtained for each male inbred, female parent and for all hybrids. The inbred lines 97-SBF5-DT-150A and Dangarko white contributed high GCA estimates for grain yield. It was observed that parents that showed high GCA effects for grain yield, also showed high to average GCA for other agronomic traits, suggesting that GCA effects for grain yield could be related to combining ability effects and agronomic traits studied. The hybrid 97-SBF5-DT-150A x Dangarko white recorded the maximum SCA effects for two out of the six traits studied namely, panicle weight and grain yield. High-parent heterosis was observed for grain yield and agronomic traits for all characters except plant height. Among the hybrids, 97-SBF5-DT-150A x Dangarko white expressed high-parent heterosis for days to anthesis, panicle length, panicle width, panicle weight, grain yield and threshing per- cent-age. Keeping in view mean performance, SCA and high-parent heterosis, the hybrid 97-SBF5-DT-150A x Dangarko white may be recommended for further testing over different locations
HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY FOR GRAIN YIELD AND AGRONOMIC TRAITS IN SOME SORGHUM CROSSES
