1Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012
*Present address: Head, IARI-Regional Station, Rajender Nagar, Hyderabad, 500 030.
The studies on the phenotypic stability of flowering time of 40 major groups consisting of 638 lines of Sorghum bicolor introduced from 44 countries all over, the world tested at 3 locations in India were undertaken. The early groups were comparatively more stable (b≤ 1.0) for flowering. Four out of these 6 groups were highly selected for productivity and derived from Caffrorum. The intermediate groups were found divergent from stable to unstable and tend to have regression coefficient ranging from 0.02 to 1.94 and high deviations from linearity. The pattern of varietal adaptation in relation to taxonomic groups and areas of geographical origin showed considerable genetic similarity. The relationship of some hybrid derivative groups with parental races indicated the evolutionary mechanism and role of free gene exchange between different major groups of Sorghum.
