Studies on Heterosis and Combining Ability for Yield Components in Grain Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

An experiment was conducted to estimate heterosis in forty eight F1 hybrids of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] with respect to grain yield and its components using six lines and eight testers. The hybrids and their parents were evaluated to assess the combining ability and gene action governing the traits by using line x tester analysis at Directorate of Sorghum Research (DSR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during 2011-12. Non-additive gene action was predominant for all the traits under study. The line 234 A ; testers CB 111 and CB 119 emerged as good general combiners for yield and its component traits. Based on sca effects, three hybrids viz., 234 A x CB 127, 151 A x CB 126 and 3183 A x CB 119 were identified as promising for good specific combiners for grain yield per plant and other traits. The hybrid 3183 A x CB 119 recorded maximum grain yield with 84.22, 69.78 and 26.93 per cent heterosis over the mid parent, better parent and standard check, respectively.