Abstract

Genotype x environment interaction was determined from a field experiment conducted to evaluate sorghum landraces of North Western Nigeria during the 2010 rainy season at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, teaching and research farm, Sokoto, Sokoto State and during 2011 rainy season at Bubuche, Augie Local Government Area, Kebbi State, North-Western Nigeria. The materials used in the study consisted of ten indigenous grain sorghum genotypes representing the types widely grown in North-Western Nigeria. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Data were collected on sorghum traits in accordance with the procedure outlined in the IBPGR/ICRISAT sorghum descriptor. The study revealed that genotype by environment interaction had significant influence on only plant height (6804.4**), leaf area index (0.86*) and flag leaf length (67.99*). Indicating that selection for plant height, flag leaf length and leaf area index is environment dependent. However, leaf number (8.68), leaf length (96.44), flag leaf area (3131.93), straw weight (3.8), 100-seed weight (34.68), and total grain yield (1233080) recorded non significant G x E influence. Selection for these traits can therefore be carried out across the two environments.

Key words: Biomass, environment, genotype, influence, sorghum.