Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for quantitative traits in sorghum germplasm

Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance were studied in sixty-four sorghum germplasm accessions collected from various districts of Vidarbha region. Significant genetic variability was observed among the genotypes studied. Highest PCV and GCV values were observed for dry fodder yield per plant followed by earhead breadth and length, grain yield per plant, stem girth and 1000 seed weight. In the present investigation, high heritability accompanied with high genetic advance over mean was observed for the characters- grain and dry fodder yield, stem girth, earhead length and breadth, suggesting the influence of additive genes and provides scope for selection. Also, high value of heritability alongwith low genetic advance over mean were observed for the characters days to maturity and number of leaves per plant indicating that variability is mainly due to the non-additive gene effects and hence heterosis breeding can be fruitfully exploited in improving such characters.