Association studies between quantitative and qualitative traits in rabi sorghum

One hundred rabi sorghum germplasm lines of diverse origin were used to estimate genetic variability parameters such as heritability, genetic advance and correlation for 15 quantitative traits. The study was conducted under rainfed conditions during rabi season. High phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for grain yield, panicle weight, panicle length, number of primaries and dead heart percentage. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed for the characters days to flowering, dead heart percentage, panicle weight panicle length, number of primaries per panicle, test weight and grain yield per plant indicating that additive gene effects were operating for these traits and selection for superior genotype was possible to bring genetic improvement in desired direction. Grain yield had positive and highly significant association with plant height, panicle weight, number of primaries, panicle weight and test weight, whereas negative and highly significant correlation with seed fat content and protein content.