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 moldresistance in 99 sorghum F3 progenies of red × red and red × white crosses including parents and checks. Variation for grain moldassociated 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 lowincidence of grain mold. In case of panicle compactness, 6 progenies had very loose, 9 progenies had loose and 26 progenies hadsemi-loose panicles and exhibited low incidence of grain mold. Twenty one progenies and seven progenies had long glumecoverage and very long glume coverage respectively and these were resistant to grain mold. All the red grain coloured progeniesshowed 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 lowincidence of grain mold. First and eleventh F3 progenies of IS 24995 × IS 23585, first and ninth progeny of IS 24996 × IS 23585and 8th progeny of IS 25022 × IS 23585 were high yielding and resistant to grain mold