%K Genetic variability, fodder quality traits, sorghum, water regimes
%C Hyderabad, India
%A V Kanuganahalli
%A P Kodukula
%A R Devulapall
%A S Deshpande
%A V Vadez
%A M Blümmel
%L icrisat10720
%P P-077
%D 2017
%T Genetic variability for fodder quality traits in sorghum under different water regimes
%X Sorghum is grown as a dual purpose crop yielding food (grain)
and fodder (stover) in marginal environments of Asia and
Sub-Saharan Africa. Application of genomics and trait discovery
tools in breeding program can expedite genetic improvement of
fodder quality. Earlier reports suggested that a difference of one
percentage unit in stover digestibility increases livestock output
of 6 to 8%. To characterize fodder quality traits in sorghum and
to identify genomic regions related to t[hose traits, a set of mapping
population parents (24) were evaluated under two water
regimes (control and stress) over 3 years at ICRISAT-Patancheru.
In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD%) – a key stover
quality trait, test weight (TW-g), stalk yield (SY-Kg/ha) and
grain yield (GY-Kg/ha) recorded significant variation across
genotype, treatment, year and interaction effects. Across season
analyses revealed a range of 45.8% to 50.4% for IVOMD,
variation from 1.9g to 4.1g for TW. The SY and GY recorded a
mean value of 4552 Kg/ha and 3152 Kg/ha, across years. While
heritability estimates across seasons were on higher side for TW
(0.85), SY (0.77) and IVOMD (0.70), it was lower for GY (0.39).
A positive correlation of 0.63 and 0.79 was observed for SY –
IVOMD and plant height (PH) - SY, respectively. This further implied
that an opportunity exists for simultaneous improvement
in both yield and fodder quality. We identified a parental set
of ICSV1 and ICSV700 having consistently contrasting values
across all seasons for IVMOD for further genetic mapping of the
fodder quality traits in sorghum.