Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapith, Rahuri, Maharashtra, India
1Present address: College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, 416 004, India
2Present address: 12, Malini, Shivaji Co-op. Housing Society, Poona, 411 016, India.
*Based on the thesis presented by the first author for M.Sc. degree in Plant Breeding and Genetics to the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri.
Inheritance of eight characters of panicle in a cross between an Indian (M-35-1) and an unnamed African variety of sorghum is reported. Panicle compactness was monogenically dominant over loose panicle (3 Pa, : 1 pa,) Persistent awning was dominant to deciduous type (15 AW1, AW2 : 1 aw1, aw2). The inheritance of outer surface of glume colour was governed by three colour genes and an inhibitor. The ratio obtained was 126 red: 66 brown: 64 white. The basic chromogen gene GIC when alone produces brown. It has two duplicate R1, and R2 red colour genes. An inhibitor, Igl inhibits complementary action of R1 and R2 but not when both genes are present with gene GIC . It was observed that same genes were involved in the inheritance of colour on outside and inside of glumes, but these genes act differentially for the two areas of glumes.
Clasping nature of glumes is dominant to the open condition of glumes (GCl1GCl2 : gcl1gcl2). There were two separate basic genes for glume texture (Ghd) and glume thickness (Gth), but three other complementary genes were common (Ghta, Ghtb, Ghtc) The inheritance of glume pubescence was governed by one dominant gene (GP1) and a pair of complementary genes (GPa, GPb).
The inheritance of character such as persistent and deciduous awning, outside and inside colours of glumes, adherence of glumes, glume texture and glume thickness are reported for the first time. All together 17 genes have been found for the eight characters of the panicle.
