Department of Forage Research, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar
Online published on 25 January, 2012.
Correlations and path-coefficients between green and dry matter yield, and their components were studied both at the genotypic and phenotypic levels in a 10 × 10 diallel in forage sorghum. Among component characters, all were positively correlated with both green and dry matter yield. Path-coeficient analysis further revealed that the direct effect of stem girth was positive only on green fodder yield, whereas its effect on dry matter yield was negative. Leaf breadth showed high positive effect on both green and dry matter yield and thus appeared to be a more reliable component character. Direct effect of leaf length was also high on dry matter yield. Days to flower and plant height invariably showed negative direct effect on both yield characters. Studies have thus advocated the importance of more leaf area per plant in forage sorghum. Requirements of an ideal plant type in forage sorghum based on present findings have also been discussed.
