PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC VARIANCE AND HERITABILITY OF STAY GREEN CHARACTER AMONG 22 ELITE SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) GENOTYPES

Abstract

<p>Delaying of leaf senescence (stay green) is an effective strategy for increasing of crop yield, particularly under water-limited conditions. Study of genotypic variance of stay green is very useful for breeding program of stay green character. Replicated field experiment was carried out in Farm Experimental Station, Faculty of Agriculture Padjadjaran University during dry season. The objectives of this study were: i) to estimate genotypic and phenotypic variances of stay green character; ii) to evaluate and investigate stay green performance of the 22 elite sorghum genotypes. High genotypic and phenotypic variances were observed for plant morphology (plant height, stem diameter), leaf morphology (leaf number, leaf width, leaf length and total leaf area) and yield component (panicle length) and were supported by high estimation of heritability value. Corresponding heritability ranged between 0.77 and 0.94. Genotypic variance of stay green characters was narrow and estimation of broad sense heritability was low. Stay green characters in sorghum might be a quantitative character that was controlled by many genes. Unpad 1.3, Unpad 1.1 and 1090 genotype showed good performance for stay green character. These genotypes can be recommended as stay green parental in breeding program.</p><p><br /><strong>Keywords</strong>: Genotypic variance, Heritability, Phenotypic variance, Sorghum, Stay green</p>