African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6900

Full Length Research Paper

Combining ability of some sorghum lines for dry lands and sub-humid environments of East Africa

Ringo Justin*
  • Ringo Justin*
  • School of Science, University of Eldoret. P. O. Box 1125, Kenya., Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 6226, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Beatrice Were
  • Beatrice Were
  • School of Science, University of Eldoret. P. O. Box 1125, Kenya.
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Mary Mgonja
  • Mary Mgonja
  • International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), P. O. Box 39063, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Deshpande Santosh
  • Deshpande Santosh
  • International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), P. O. Box 502 324, Patancheru, India.
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Rathore Abhishek
  • Rathore Abhishek
  • International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), P. O. Box 502 324, Patancheru, India.
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Mneney Emmarold
  • Mneney Emmarold
  • Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 6226, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Onkware Agustino
  • Onkware Agustino
  • Rongo University College, P. O. Box 103-40404, Rongo, Kenya.
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Gudu Samuel
  • Gudu Samuel
  • Rongo University College, P. O. Box 103-40404, Rongo, Kenya.
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  •  Received: 18 January 2014
  •  Accepted: 15 April 2015
  •  Published: 07 May 2015

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a major food crop grown in dry lands and sub-humid areas of East Africa. A study was conducted between 2010 to 2012 in dry lands (Miwaleni, Kiboko) and sub-humid (Ukiriguru) environments to identify parents for hybrid production. It involved 121 lines from ICRISAT and 121 hybrids developed from 36 male sterile lines and 42 restorer lines in a line × tester crossing. Experiments were planted in an alpha lattice design with three replications. Analysis revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences between parents and between crosses for yield and yield components, indicative of potentiality for exploitation. Line IESV23010 expressed best (-6.5) general combing ability (GCA) for days to 50% flowering (DAF). Highest general combiner for height was -55.4 expressed in ICSR24007 and for yield was 382.8 expressed in IESV92156DL. The crosses SDSA4×ICSR43 and SDSA4×ICSR59059 exhibited high and significant specific combining ability (SCA) for DAF. Lines IESB2 and ICSB44 were suited to sub-humid, whereas BTX623, ICSB15 and ICSB6 to dry lands environments. Testers IESV91104DL, IESV91131DL, ICSR93034 were well suited to dry lands whereas KARI-MTAMA1 and IESV23019 to sub-humid environments. The parents identified could be used to produce hybrids and varieties for the dry lands and sub-humid environments.

 

Key words: Combining ability, lines, restorers, sorghum, top-cross hybrids.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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