Analysis of genetic diversity in exotic sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) germplasm and identification of trait specific superior accessions for post-rainy situation

Exotic germplasm serves as important reservoir of genetic variability in most of the field crops. In order to assess the genetic variability, 70 exotic germplasm lines along with five popular varieties were evaluated for twelve agro-morphological traits in an augmented block design during post-rainy season of 2017–18 at Centre on Rabi Sorghum, Solapur, India. Wide range of values were observed for stover yield per plant (6.93 -152.42 g), panicle weight per plant (10.24 - 88.11 g), total biomass (22.91 - 240.53 g) and grain yield per plant (6.38 -92.63 g). Stover yield, thousand seed weight, total biomass and harvest index were significantly correlated with grain yield (P ≤ 0.01). Days to 50% flowering and plant height are negatively associated with lodging and stay green traits. Cluster analysis resolved all the genotypes into nine major clusters and the PCA analysis revealed that the total biomass, grain yield per plant, stover yield per plant, and panicle weight per plant contributed maximum towards divergence. Among germplasm lines, IS 11848 was found superior for both grain (92.63 g) and stover yield (152.42 g) over the best check CSV 29, which could be further evaluated in multi-location testing for isolation of better farmer preferred rabi genotype. The accessions, IS 9742 (57 days) and IS 12662 (93 days) were earliest and late to flower respectively. Few accessions, IS 14880, IS 13047, IS 18662, IS 12662, IS 11919 were found to be lodging resistant, possessing stay green character in them, which ultimately serves as potential source for drought resistance breeding in post rainy sorghum.