Growth, water status, physiological, biochemical and yield response of stay green sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench) varieties-a field trial under drought-prone area in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Drought is a major limiting factor for crop expansion. Currently efforts are focused on improving crop genotypes for drought-prone areas. Considering this, a field experiment was conducted in the Shewa robit (a drought-prone area), Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia to evaluate the various growth attributes, physiological, biochemical and agronomic performances of different Stay-Green (SG) Sorghum accessions. Three Sorghum collections (Sorcoll) namely, Sorcoll 141/07, Sorcoll 146/07, Sorcoll 163/07 and a check (Afeso) genotypes were used. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design. Data on the height, girth diameter, number of tillers, number of green leaf, leaf senescence, leaf area, chlorophyll content index, flowering, physiological maturity, Relative Water Content (RWC), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (E), Water Use Efficiency (WUE), maximum quantum yield of PSII efficiency (Fv/Fm), leaf pigments, proline, nitrogen, protein, soluble sugar contents, Shoot Dry Weight (SDW), Root Dry Weight (RDW), Root to Shoot Ratio (RSR) and yield revealed significant difference among the accessions at p<0.05 level. Afeso and Sorcoll 163/07 showed better stress tolerance and the SG property. These accessions were also given maximum grain yield per hectare, while Sorcoll 146/07 has shown early maturity. Further, the correlation analysis revealed that girth diameter, number of tillers, chlorophyll content, leaf area, RWC, Pn, E, WUE, Fv/Fm, rate of leaf senescence, SDW, RDW and RSR had significant and positive relation with grain yield per hectare; and have been found to be effective screening tools for stress tolerance and SG property. Thus, they can be used in Sorghum breeding program.