Heterosis for fodder yield in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench).

A study was conducted to investigate the possibility of exploiting heterosis in breeding for improved fodder yield in sorghum. Seven cytoplasmic male sterile lines and five testers were crossed in a line x tester mating design. A total of thirty five F1 hybrids along with twelve parents were evaluated for days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of tillers, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf breadth, stem diameter, green fodder yield and dry fodder yield. Among the thirty five hybrid combinations, two hybrids namely, ICSA 547 x PKB 192 (L1 x T5) was high for five traits viz., plant height, number of tillers, leaf length, green fodder yield and dry fodder yield and ICSA 693 x PKB 291(L4 x T1) was high for four traits viz., plant height, leaf breadth, green fodder yield and dry fodder yield. These two hybrids recorded significant standard heterosis over both CO 27 and COFS 29 for more than one yield contributing characters in addition to that of green fodder yield.