An investigation was carried out in 23 advanced lines of sorghum along with M-35-1, Muguthi, E-36-1 and SPV-86 as check varieties. Various genetic diversity parameters were studied for 14 quantitative characters viz., Root Length, Root Spread, Seminal Roots, Adventitious Roots, Fresh Root Weight, Root Volume, Dry Root Weight, Seed Yield per Plant, Fodder Yield per plant, Charcoal rot Lodging per cent, Mean Node Crossed, Mean Length Spread, Phytic Acid and Inorganic Phosphorus. Twenty Seven sorghum lines were analyzed for D2 analysis. They grouped into 6 different clusters. Cluster I was largest with seven genotypes followed by cluster II and V with six genotypes. Whereas cluster III consisted of four genotypes, while two genotypes were present in cluster IV and cluster VI. The intra cluster distance was maximum in cluster V followed by cluster III and cluster II. Whereas inter clusters distance was maximum between cluster IV and cluster VI. All two genotypes from cluster IV were characterized by high root length, fresh root weight, dry root weight, less charcoal rot infection of both Mean Node Cross and Mean Length Spread. While cluster VI was characterized by root volume and high inorganic phosphorus. These characters are important with respect to overall improvement seed yield combining with charcoal rot resistance and high inorganic phosphorus in sorghum. Crosses among genetically diverse genotypes are likely to throw desirable recombinants. Therefore crossing between the genotypes belonging to cluster IV (GS 21 and Muguthi) and cluster VI (GS-14 and M-35-1) might be useful for identifying recombinants for high yield potential in segregating generations.
Sorghum, Roots, Charcoal rot, Phytic acid, Inorganic phosphorous
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