Multivariate analysis of hybrid performance and genetics of fertility restoration behavior in rabi sorghum hybrids

The present investigation was undertaken with a view of expedition of putative restorers for the development of high yielding rabi sorghum hybrids. Three CMS line were tested with ten restorers in line × tester mating design to evaluate seed set per cent and fertility restoration behavior. Restorers AKRB-335-3, Rb-413-1, AKRB-428, AKRB-429, AKRB-430 and AKRB-431 exhibited high fertility restoration ability in the CMS lines and therefore, hybrids viz. AKMS 30A×AKRB-3353, AKMS 30A×AKRB-428, AKMS 30A×Rb-413-1, AKMS 30A×AKRB-429, AKMS 30A×AKRB-430, AKMS 30A×AKRB-431, AKRMS 45A×AKRB-335-3, AKRMS 45A×AKRB-428 and AKRMS 45A×Rb-413-1 showed high seed set percentage with anther fertility rating (9.0). The inheritance of fertility restoration revealed that observed frequency fits well into Mendelian ration of 3: 1 for seed setting indicates that fertility restoration is governed by single dominant gene. Cluster analysis differentiate thirty hybrids in three classes, fully fertile revealed that their corresponding restorers considered to be putative restorers having high potential of fertility restoration, partial fertile hybrids stated that some modifier genes has a vital role in restoration of fertility, whereas, sterile hybrids indicate that their restorers act as maintainer as it maintain the sterility of all three CMS line.