Variability for grain mold resistance in sorghum F3 progenies of red × red and red × white grain crosses

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to estimate the nature and magnitude of genetic variability for yield and grain mold resistance in 99 sorghum F3 progenies of red × red and red × white crosses including parents and checks. Variation for grain mold associated traits was analyzed with respect to grain hardness, panicle compactness, grain colour, glume length and glume colour. Among 99 F3 progenies 30 progenies exhibited partly hard grains and 19 progenies had hard grains and which exhibited low incidence of grain mold. In case of panicle compactness, 6 progenies had very loose, 9 progenies had loose and 26 progenies had semi-loose panicles and exhibited low incidence of grain mold. Twenty one progenies and seven progenies had long glume coverage and very long glume coverage respectively and these were resistant to grain mold. All the red grain coloured progenies showed low incidence of grain mold and progenies which had red and black coloured glumes were moderately resistant. Genotypes with hard grains, loose panicles, medium to long glume coverage and red and black coloured glumes had low incidence of grain mold. First and eleventh F3 progenies of IS 24995 × IS 23585, first and ninth progeny of IS 24996 × IS 23585 and 8th progeny of IS 25022 × IS 23585 were high yielding and resistant to grain mold.