Leaf width as a marker trait of high productivity of sweet sorghum green mass

Abstract

Relevance. The purpose of the work is to identify the main signs influencing the yield of the green mass of sugar sorghum on the basis of correlation and regression analysis. There has been identified a marker trait for high productivity of sweet sorghum, it is leaf width, the relative ease of measurement of which greatly facilitates breeding work when analyzing productivity in the field, and there have been identified collection samples with high values of the trait, recommended for use as sources. Methods. The study was carried out in 2021–2023. The objects of the study are collection samples of sweet sorghum. The soil of the experimental plot is represented by ordinary carbonate blackearth. Weather conditions of 2021–2023 were contrasting. The meteorological conditions in 2021–2023 were contrasting. The GTC for May — September in 2021 was 0.82, in 2022 — 0.52, in 2021 — 0.81, which indicates average aridity (2022) and insufficient moisture in 2021 and 2023. Results. There has been established that with an increase in leaf surface area from 96 to 450 cm², the yield of green mass for silage increases from 15 to 46 t/ha. Correlation analysis confirms this relationship r = 0.50 ± 0.06. There is an increase in the yield of green mass by 0.08 t/ha with an increase in leaf area by 1 cm². With an increase in leaf width from 3 to 10 cm, the yield of green mass increases from 18 to 48 t/ha. According to correlation and regression analysis, an increase in leaf width by 1 cm is accompanied by an increase in productivity by 4.8 t/ha at r = 0.52 ± 0.06. There have been identified the samples with the largest values of width and leaf surface area Zernogradskoe 1 UK, Volzhskoe 51/1, Sweet Oxley Amber, K-1798/1, K-3054/1, K-4575, Zernogradskoe 1/1332.