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International Journal of
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ISSN 1816-4897

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International Journal of Agricultural Research 1 (5): 503-508, 2006
ISSN 1816-4897
© 2006 Academic Journals Inc., USA

Nature of Inheritance and Genetic Components of
Some Agronomic Traits in Sorghum

F.A. Showemimo, J.N. Buah, A.A. Addo-Quaye and E. Asare-Bediako
Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture,
University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

 

Abstract: Factorial mating design was used to generate twenty-five hybrids from five male
sterile (A- lines) and five male fertile (R-lines) parents. Ten parents and twenty five hybrids
were evaluated in a Randomised Complete Block Design replicated 3 times. Analysis of
variance showed significant differences between crosses (male x female interaction) for plant
height, 1000 seed weight and grain yield. High heterotic value of 692.03% for grain yield was
recorded. Hybrids that exhibited high heterotic value for grain yield, likewise has high
heterotic value for yield components; panicle length, panicle weight, 1000 seed weight and
number of seed per panicle. Narrow sense heritability was low for seedling vigour, days to
50% bloom plant height, panicle weight, number of seed/panicle and grain yield. Moderate
heritability was obtained for panicle length and 1000 seed weight, thus preponderance of
non-additive gene action for all traits studied. The best all round hybrids identified from this
study are MA10xNR 71143, MA10xNR71146, MA10xNR71167 and 2219AxNR71167.

Key words: Gene action, heritability, hybrid vigour, improvement

 

Introduction

In Nigeria sorghum is grown in the savannah agro-ecological zones, mainly under rain fed
conditions. Sorghum has an annual total production of 4.8 to 6 million tones and an average yield of
800 to 1087 kg ha on about 6 million ha of arable land. It forms the staple food for millions of
people in these area, the grains are used to produce various local foods and drinks. Sorghum is likewise
an important raw material in the agro-industrial sector (Nwasike, 1982; Obilana, 1983; FAO, 1985).

The ban on the importation of other cereals like wheat, rice, barley and maize by the Federal
Government makes it necessary to double the present level of sorghum production to meet the agro-
industrial and consumption demand (Nwasike, 1987). The ultimate goal in crop improvement
programme is to evolve cultivars that perform better than the existing ones. Heterosis is the main
attention in hybridisation and hybridisation is one of the methods in crop improvement programme.
Heterosis is the manifestation of vigour or fertility by crossing inbreeds, so the F, hybrids fall outside
the range of the better parent. Numerous researchers like Quinby (1963), Rao (1979), Girko (1985),
Kimbeng (1990) and Yeye and Showemimo (2002) have recorded this phenomenon in sorghum and
pearl millet.

Generally, heritability is defined as the proportion of the observed total variability that is genetic.
Biometrically it is a ratio of two components namely: genetic variance (8*,) which is numerator and
phenotypic variance (8’,,) the denominator (Obilana and Fakorede, 1981). Differences occur between
individuals of species in the expression of a particular trait. Such difference whether they arise mainly
from genetic make up of individual or are due to environmental effects can be termed heritability. There
are 2 main types of heritability: Broad and Narrow sense heritability, narrow sense heritability was

 

Corresponding Author: Dr. F.A. Showemimo, Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture,
University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Intl. J. Agri. Res., 1 (5): 503-508, 2006

used in this study because it determines the degree of resemblance between relatives and expresses its
predictive advantage, thus the reliability of the phenotypic value as a measure of the breeding value
in selection and improvement programmes (Jan-Orn, 1973; Falconer, 1981; Spavakov, 1988;
Showemimo and Nwasike, 1996). Genetic components of variance give an indication of the gene effect
controlling the trait of study, thus genetic information is important for crop improvement (Yeye and
Showemimo, 2002; Showemimo, 2003, 2004).

The present study was designed to provide helpful genetic information in identifying varieties or
hybrids with good agronomic performance and heritable qualities that will lead into formulating an
appreciable and effective breeding programme to improved yield and good agronomic performance.

Materials and Methods

Twenty five hybrids obtained from crosses between 5 restorer lines (NR 71150, 71147, 71138,
71167 and 71143) and 5 male sterile lines (MA9 MA10, 2219A, M24264A and P. 954A) using a
factorial mating design as described by design II of Comstock and Robinson (1952). The F, hybrids
and their parents were grown in Samaru in a randomised complete block design with 3 replications.
Each plot consist of 4 rows, each 6.00.75 cm and intra-spacing of stands 0.30 m. Each plot was over
planted and thinned to 2 plants per stand two weeks after planting. Recommended agronomic practices
were followed to archive a successful crop production. Data were collected and analysed on 10 plants
per plot, data collected includes: Seedling vigour, Days to 50% bloom, plant height, panicle length,
panicle weight, 1000 seed weight, number of seeds per panicle and grain yield.

Heterosis effect was determined as increase or decrease of F, mean over that of the superior
parent as follows:

_R-MSP
MSP

H 100

Where F, is mean performance of hybrid formed between i th and jth female parent, MSP is mean
performance of superior parents of a common hybrid.
Narrow sense heritability was estimated using Grafius et a/. (1952) formula.

2 +8)
+8 +84 8 /r

6’, 5’, and 5*,, are the genetic variances of female, male and male x female (hybrid) components
respectively, 8’, is the variance due to error, while ris the number of replications.

Results

The analysis of variance (Table 1) shows significance for head weight (p = 0.05), while seedling
vigour, plant height and 1000 seed weight were significant at p = 0.01 among the males. There was
significant difference for plant height, days to 50% bloom and 1000 seed weight at p = 0.05 among the
females. Head weight (p = 0.05) and grain yield (p = 0.01) were also significant. The crosses were
significant for seedling vigour, days to 50% bloom, head length and 1000 seed weight at p = 0.05,
however, plant height and grain yield were highly significant (p = 0.01).

Table 2 and 3 shows the average performance of the parents and hybrids, respectively. Hybrids
2219A x NR71167, MA9 x NR71143 and MA9 x NR71167 are the most vigorous hybrids while
2219A x NR71138 was the least vigorous cross. All crosses involving MA9 and 2426A as the female
parents bloom late, MA10 x NR71147 and 2119A x NR71167 bloom early. Head length ranged.

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Table 1: Means squares from analysis of variance for the sorghum traits studied

 

 

 

 

 

Days to Plant Head Head 1000 No. of Grain

Source of Seedling 50%bloom height length weight seed seeds/ yield
variation df vigour (cm) (cm) (kg/plot) _(g) weight head (kg ha~)
Males 4 11.00** 54.10** 542.2** 14.07* 0.756 34128** 88351 699721
Females 4 2.67 18.10* 472.3* 26.16** 0.712 12.349* 215199 255738***
Males x 16 6.63* 16.90* TT3R RE 17.43* 0.5455 8.391* 460417 253035***
Females
(crosses)
Residual 48 0.174 9.91 126.8 10.60 0.5832 6.243 657059 43091
# at 3 Denote 0.10, 0.05 and 0.01 level of significance, respectively
Table 2: Average performance of 10 parents with respect to 8 traits

Days to Plant Head Head 1000 No. of Grain

Seedling 50%bloom height length weight seed seeds/ yield

Parents vigour (cm) (cm) (kgplot) weight head (kg ha“)
MA9 2.67 71.67 109 25 1.14 17.23 1403.24 1015.56
MALO 3.33 74.67 114.33 25 0.45 13.07 920.79 867.41
22194 2.00 77.00 91.67 24.33 0.54 16.39 1309.79 794.08
M24264A 2.33 78.00 98.00 22.67 0.34 15.93 756.91 961.48
P.9S4A 2.67 76.00 87.00 18.00 0.42 12.77 1059.27 1001.48
NR 71150 3.00 77.00 102.67 22.33 0.60 13.49 972.66 1210.37
NR 71147 1.67 83.00 100.33 24.33 0.27 11.11 1031.64 1052.96
NR 71138 2.00 83.00 113.00 20.33 0.60 15.95 1403.04 804.44
NR 71167 2.67 74.67 131.33 26.00 0.79 16.03 951.02 1125.18
NR 71143 3.00 74.67 124.33 20.33 1.61 20.17 1152.93 1183.70
SE +£0.82 +£4.08 +£6.95 £1.57 £0.28 £1.23 £59.87 £41.63
cv 27.67 7.80 21.20 19.47 30.07 31.68 33.86 34.78
LSD (0.05) __0.74 8.65 14.73 3.33 0.09 2.61 56.92 12.26

 

Table 3: Average performance of 25 hybrids with respect to eight traits

 

Hybrids Vv, V. V3 (cm) Va(cm) Vs (kg plot) _Ve(g) Vy Vs (kg ha)
MA9 xNR71150 3.00 71.33 117 27.00 1.33 19.50 1567 905
"x" F147 2.67 72.67 104.33 25.33 1.77 17.01 1485 1119
"x" 71138 2.67 73.67 123.00 25.33 1.32 19.67 1545 1430
"x" 71167 3.00 73.33 124.00 28.00 1.99 19.57 1867 911
"x" 71143 2.67 69.00 133.67 28.00 1.21 20.06 1387 859
MA10 * NR71150 2.33 73.33 129.33 24.33 0.40 20.84 1156 738
"x" T1147 3.33 63.33 134.33 28.33 1.71 16.50 1369 664
"x" 71138 2.33 72.33 147.67 24.67 0.97 18.71 618 976
"x" 71167 3.67 70.00 160.67 26.67 2.46 26.23 1303 2279
"x" 71143 3.67 68.67 168.33 28.00 2.29 21.00 1400 2299
2219A x NR71150 3.00 71.33 135.00 28.00 0.93 18.84 1203 904
"x" F147 2.67 69.33 134.67 27.67 0.93 17.23 1072 867
"x" 71138 1.33 72.67 128.67 21.67 0.26 17.75 1109 938
"x" 71167 4.00 64.33 160.00 30.67 2.09 21.60 2457 2086
"x" 71143 2.00 80.00 116.67 24.00 0.93 18.87 3305 1496
24264A xNR71150 2.00 82.67 116.00 26.67 0.48 19.67 1727 563
"ox" T1147 3.00 74.33 130.67 27.33 1.12 16.73 1352 853
"x" 71138 3.33 72.33 139.33 26.00 0.79 14.95 1090 796
"x" 71167 2.67 75.67 131.00 28.33 0.94 18.90 1485 893
"x" 71143 2.00 75.00 134.33 24.00 1.00 18.66 1597 425
P.954A x NR71150 2.00 73.33 119.00 22.00 0.44 17.60 848 532
"ox" F147 3.67 70.33 162.33 25.67 1.24 15.26 1298 430
"x" 71138 3.00 68.33 174.33 24.00 1.03 13.61 1204 78S
"x" 71167 2.67 71.00 170.00 22.00 1.08 19.94 2229 840
"ox" 71143 3.33 77.00 161.67 23.33 1.14 18.23 2217 853
SE +1.083 = +5.908 £20.66 £13.26 +£0.14 +£2.50 +10.6 +764
CV (%) 38 8.2 14.9 12.6 36 14.4 24 38.4
LSD (0.05) 2.12 11.58 40.49 25.9 0.50 49 588.78 286.54

 

V, = Seedling vigour, V, = Days to 50% bloom, V; = Plant height, V, = Head length, V; = Head weight, Vs = 1000
seed weight, V; = No. of seeds/panicle and V; = Grain yield

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Table 4: Heterosis of hybrids over superior parent (SP) for all traits measure

 

 

Hybrids Vi V; Vi(cm) Vem) __Vs (kg plot) —Vs(gm) iV Vz (kg haé')
MA9 x NR71150 0.00 -7.36 13.96 8.00 16.62 -11.51 11.67 -1.15
"ox" FIAT -19.98 -5.62 1.62 132 194.03 26.12 52.67 172.68
"x" 71138 -11.10 4.32 34.18 4.11 118.41 20.01 17.96 247.56
"x" 71167 0.00 -5.99 39.33 23.51 229.52 10.30 91.95 121.99
"x" 71143 -11.10 — -10.39 53.64 25.38 100.66 33.91 30.94 109.32
MAL1O0 x NR71150 12.53 -11.65 28.90 -2.68 -64.74 -19.69 -17.62 -19.39
"ox" FIAT 0.00 -20.08 33.88 13.32 291.39 26.28 32.70 80.73
"x" 71138 16.65 -12.86 61.09 140 78.64 14.15 -50.82 147.67
"x" 71167 57.18 -3.61 80.53 9.62 325.66 1.88 26.30 692.03
"x" 71143 37.50 = -17.27 93.48 15.08 445.24 40.96 32.17 396.79
2219A x NR71150 1249 -14.06 23.87 12.00 -18.90 9.33 -14.27 -1.26
"ox" T1147 -19.98  -16.47 19.17 10.68 54.23 14.95 -23.59 -0.03
"x" 71138 -33.35 -12.45 40.37 -10.93 -56.88 8.03 -20.96 208.10
"x" 71167 TLAS -22.49 79.78 35.31 246.60 35.42 3.85 256.72
"x" 71143 -25.01 -3.61 34.10 7A8 54.23 5.77 135.56 62.92
24264A x NR71150_— -25.01 10.72 6.42 258 -58.28 -3.27 23.07 71.27
"ox" T1147 -9.99 -0.45 14.29 5.12 42.15 437 42.16 62.42
"x" 71138 66.65 -6.06 51.99 0.00 -0.38 -8.79 -16.78 -43.64
"x" 71167 14.32 2.99 47.19 8.96 18.99 5.43 56.15 127.16
"x" 71143 -25.01 -1.32 54.40 -7.69 26.58 16.41 50.76 -19.08
P.954A x NR71150 — -33.33 -2.33 9.17 -12.00 -72.67 17.71 -39.57 -61.55
"x" F147 10.02 -5.81 41.98 2.68 -22.98 -14.44 1.53 -11.11
"x" 71138 0.00 -11.26 90.17 -1.36 -35.84 -12.71 -8.08 43.27
"x" 71167 -11.10 -8.97 91.01 -2.94 -33.11 -16.03 110.68 -24.84
mx" 71143 11.10 1.32 85.83 14.76 -29.01 -14.14 92.29 -74.49

 

V, = Seedling vigour, V; = Days to 50% bloom, V3 = Plant height, V, = Head length, V; = Head weight, V; = 1000
seed weight, V; = Number of seeds/panicle and V, = Grain yield

Table 5: Estimates of genetic components of variance, heritability (0) and coefficient of variation (%) for eight agronomic
traits of sorghum

 

Days to Plant Head Head 1000 No. of Grain

Seedling 50%bloom height length weight seed seeds/ yield

vigour ___(cm) (cm) __(kgplot) __(gm) weight head (kg ha)
a 0.029 2.48 20.99 0.44 0.014 1.716 -24804.4 29779.066
&; -0.026 0.08 16.33 1.249 -0.0155 0.2638 —- -16347.867 180.2
On -0.170 -6.0 -66.5 -1.057 0.0125 -0.716 -65547.33 -59291.67
oy 0.0002 0.16 2.33 0.1057 -0.0115 0.124 -2572.017 1872.45
&p -0.170 -6.0 -66.5 -1.057 0.0125 0.716 -65547.33 -59291.67
OVS -0.0012 -0.027 -0.035 0.0994 0.92 0.173 0.039 -0.0316
h(ns) 1.34 31.23 33.00 40.46 -0.83 41.45 -36.64 26.21
CV %) 31.67 6.4 15.36 14.24 17.69 22.97 27.39 34.76

 

between 22 and 31 cm, more than half of the hybrids have longer panicles than their parents. MA9 =
NR71150 had the least head weight (0.40 g), while MA10 x NR71167 highest seed weight (2.5 g),
the parental range for head weight is 0.27-1.61 kg plot”. All the hybrids were taller than their superior
parent. Hybrid 2219A x NR 71167 has the highest seed weight of 28.23 g, while the least was 13.61
g recorded for hybrids and ranged between 11.11 and 20.17 g for their parents. Three hybrids notably
2219A x NR71143, 2219A x NR71167 and P.954 x NR71167 have the highest number of seed per
head. MA10 x NR 71146, MA10 x NR71167 and 2219A x NR71167 yielded over 2 tonnes which
is more than any of the hybrid and their parents.

Hybrid MA10 x NR 71167 has the highest positive heterosis for grain yield while the lowest
heterosis was obtained for P. 954 x NR71143 as seen in Table 4. High heterotic value of 135.56% was
obtained for number of seeds/head. The highest heterotic effect for 1000 seed weight was expressed
in MA10 x NR 71143. For head weight hybrid MA10 x NR71143 showed highest heterotic value of
445.24%. Heterotic value of 35.31% was recorded in hybrid 2219A x NR71167 for head weight, while
hybrid MA10 x NR71143 has the highest heterotic value of 93.48% for plant height. Heterotic value
of 10.72% was recorded for days to 50% bloom in M24264A = NR71150, while 71.45% was recorded
in 2219A = NR 71167 for seedling vigour.

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Negative heterosis was however recorded in 12 hybrids for seedling vigour in Table 4. All hybrids
showed negative heterosis except one for days to 50% bloom. No negative heterosis was recorded for
plant height, 6 hybrids showed negative heterosis for head length, 10 hybrids showed negative
heterosis value for head weight. One thousand seed weight showed negative heterosis in 9 hybrids,
while 8 hybrids showed negative heterosis for number of seeds/panicle and 12 out of the 25 hybrids
showed negative heterosis for grain yield.

In Table 5 estimates of genetic components of variance, heritability and coefficient of variation
were shown. The male component of variance was larger in magnitude than those for females for all
the traits except for number of seeds/panicle. There was preponderance of non additive over additive
component of variance for all the traits, as indicated by the 8°,/8*, ratio. However, variance component
due to average additive effect of genes were predominant for all characters except 1000 seed weight.
Narrow sense heritability estimates in Table 5 were as low as -36.64% for number of seeds/head and
as high as 41.45% for 1000 seed weight. Heritability estimates were moderate for grain yield (26.21%),
days to 50% bloom (31.23%), plant height (33%), head length (40.46%) and 1000 seed weight
(41.45%). Heritability were low for number of seed/head (-36.64%), head weight (-0.83%) and seedling
vigour (1.34%).

Discussion

The 10 parents and their 25 hybrids exhibited variability in the traits studied as seen by the
analysis of variance, their mean agronomic performance and coefficient of variation. Generally 80% of
the hybrids performed better than their parental combination especially for yield and yield
components. Thus, these sorghum entries have sufficient variability for selection and subsequent crop
improvement. Nwasike and Oyejola (1989), Showemimo and Nwasike (1996), Yeye and Showemimo,
(2002) reported similar observation in millet and sorghum with emphasis on quantitative and complex
traits like yield and yield components.

The highest positive heterosis obtained in this study is for grain yield (692.03%) over the superior
parent, it is evident that, the factors that contribute to grain yield include plant height, head length,
head weight, earlier flowering, number of seeds/head and 1000 seed weight. Since hybrid that showed
high heterosis for yield also showed high heterosis for these characters. Plant breeders are usually
interested in the amount of heterosis that is useful in crop improvements, thus the particular hybrid
that differs significantly are of ultimate importance. Such hybrids and their parents are selected for
hybrid programmes (Spavakov, 1988; Kimbeng, 1990; Showemimo and Nwasike, 1996).

In this study, the hybrids that perform well based on their mean performance and heterosis
includes: MA10 x NR71167 exhibited highest heterosis for grain yield; 2219A x NR71143 notably
highest heterosis for 1000 seed weight, head weight and plant height; 2219A x NR71167 expressed
highest heterotic value for head length and seedling vigour, while M24264A « NR71150 exhibited.
highest heterosis for days to 50%. It is therefore noteworthy that the best and most consistent hybrids
that performed well across all the characters studied are MA10 x NR 71143, MA10 x NR71146,
MAIO x NR71167 and 2219A x NR71167.

Most of the traits studied are influenced by non-additive gene effect, while characters like head
length and 1000 seed weight with moderate heritability has both additive and non additive gene effect,
thus, these traits are heritable and can easily selected in a crop improvement program. However, the
5?,/8%, ratio and heritability estimates for all the traits studied are under non-additive gene effect
therefore, pedigree breeding program of crop improvement that utilizes the genetic information herein
will be appropriate.

In conclusion, the identification of the best hybrids that perform well across all characters studied
and the much needed genetic information of the traits studied, the choice of an appropriate and efficient

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breeding programme for crop improvement is no longer a problem. Since heterosis and heritability are
fixable, hybridization, recurrent selection or modified pedigree breeding method can be used for desired
agronomic traits improvement especially for yield and yield components based on the genetic
information obtained herein.

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