Heterosis and Combining Ability Analysis for Grain Yield and Yield Attributing Morpho-physiological Traits in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

A study to assess heterosis and combining ability for grain yield and yield attributing morpho-physiological traits in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] was conducted in 2014 summer. Six maintainers (B lines) and four restorers (R lines) were crossed in line × tester design to generate 24 F₁ hybrids. Genetic materials were evaluated in randomized complete block design with two replications. Among the hybrids ABTA2 1002 B × SPV 2175 recorded maximum grain yield plant⁻¹ with 89.43, 67.90 and 67.90 percent heterosis over mid parent, better parent and standard check, respectively. This cross also recorded maximum per se performance for panicle length and panicle weight. Furthermore, this cross has significant heterosis in desired direction for all the traits studied, except test weight. Ratio of variance of general to specific combing ability was less than unity for all the traits studied indicating the preponderance of non-additive gene action governing these traits.