Correlation and path coefficient analysis of various sorghum genotypes (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) for quality traits

Abstract

The study was conducted on 25 sorghum genotypes grown in Randomized Block Design during Kharif 2015 to evaluate, categorize and classify them for fodder yield and quality traits. Correlation and path analysis studies were conducted to determine the association among various fodder yield and its component traits, and the direct and indirect contribution towards fodder yield in 25 sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) genotypes grown at forage section in CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana, India) during Kharif, 2015. Plant height up to the base of flag leaf was positively associated with green fodder yield (0.30), dry fodder yield(0.91), digestible dry matter(0.96), IVDMD(0.54), and negatively associated with the time of panicle emergence. The number of tillers per plant was found to be positively associated with the number of leaves(0.37), crude protein(0.25), green fodder yield(0.26), dry fodder yield(0.30), and lignin content and negatively with stem girth. Green fodder yield was positively associated with plant height(0.30), the no. of leaves(0.27), stem girth, dry fodder yield, IVDMD, DDM and protein yield. Dry fodder yield was positively associated with GFY, plant height, stem girth, the no. of tillers, IVDMD, DDM and protein yield and negatively with panicle length visible above sheath. Lignin was positively associated with plant height and the no. of tillers and negatively with ADF, IVDMD and stem girth. The IVDMD content was positively associated with GFY, DFY, the no. of leaves, DDM and protein yield while, negatively with lignin. Crude protein was positively associated with the no. of leaves, stem girth, the no. of tillers, lignin, IVDMD and protein yield and negatively with ADF. The NDF was positively associated with crude protein. The DDM was positively associated with GFY, stem girth, DFY, IVDMD and protein yield. Protein yield was positively associated with GFY, the no. of leaves, stem girth, DFY, IVDMD, crude protein and DDM and negatively with stigma length. Therefore, these traits could be considered as the best selection criteria in sorghum breeding programmes for the development of high yielding varieties.