Influence of different synchronization treatments on floral behaviour of parental lines and hybrid seed set in sorghum

In order to achieve higher seed set, the influence of different synchronization treatments on floral behaviour of parents and hybrid seed yield was studied in two sorghum hybrids CSH 15R (rabi hybrid) and CSH 16 (kharif hybrid) during rabi 1999–2000 and 2000–2001. Other than staggered sowing, the alternate measures for synchronization of parental lines were found to improve the seed set. The application of gibberillic acid and nitrogen supplementation at varying doses to the late flowering parental lines could bring both the parents to proper nicking in the two hybrids studied. In case of CSH 16 the seed soaking of late flowering parents for 20 hrs in water could lead to higher seed set compared to control. As the gap in flowering of male and female parents was just 3 days, it is cost-effective compared to the application of GA spray and nitrogen supplementation. The flowering of lagging parent can be hastened by selective synchronization treatment specific to each sorghum hybrid. Thus, the present study brought out the useful information to synchronize the flowering of both the parents involved in seed production of two different sorghum hybrids.