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Progress achieved by breeding open-pollinated cultivars as compared with landraces of sorghum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. Blum ,
G. Golan  and
J. Mayer
A. Blum
Affiliation:
Institute of Field and Garden Crops, The Volcani Centre, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
G. Golan
Affiliation:
Institute of Field and Garden Crops, The Volcani Centre, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
J. Mayer
Affiliation:
Institute of Field and Garden Crops, The Volcani Centre, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
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Summary

To assess the progress made in modern breeding of open-pollinated sorghum cultivars, 24 contemporary and improved sorghum cultivars from ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, India) were compared with 40 sorghum landraces collected in Ethiopia. The experiment was performed at Bet Dagan, Israel, in 1988 under near-potential (dripirrigated) and dryland (stored soil moisture) growing conditions. Data on phenology, biomass, harvest index, grain yield and its components were collected. ‘Drought susceptibility index’ (S) was calculated for each genotype as the reduction in yield from irrigated to dryland conditions relative to the mean reduction for all genotypes.

On average, cultivars produced about three- to fourfold more grain than landraces. Cultivars had the same mean growth duration and biomass but were 40% (irrigated) to 27% (dryland) shorter in mean plant height than landraces. This yield advantage was fully accounted for by a proportionately greater mean kernel number per panicle and harvest index, irrespective of the water regime. ‘Drought susceptibility index’ was near average for all cultivars and much more variable among landraces. Dryland yield became progressively dependent on the yield potential as the yield potential was genetically improved in the cultivars.

It was concluded that, irrespective of the water regime, the large yield improvement in modern open-pollinated cultivars of sorghum, as compared with landraces, has been achieved only through greater dry matter partitioning to the panicle accompanied by a reduction in plant height. The genetic improvement of yield in open-pollinated cultivars and hybrids of sorghum is discussed.

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 117 , Issue 3 , December 1991 , pp. 307 - 312
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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