Improving sorghum production and nutritional quality through crossing using genetic parameters for target plant selection

Abstract

Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is increasingly recognized as a promising alternative food crop, attributed to its high nutritional content and resilience under less-than-ideal growing conditions. However, progress in developing sorghum varieties with superior yield, enhanced nutritional attributes, and optimal grain texture has been limited. This study aimed to investigate the genetic variability, heritability, and selection potential of both agronomic and nutritional traits in an F 4 sorghum population that originated from a cross between Bioguma and Gando Keta. The study was conducted at the Citayam Experimental Station (-6°26′27,76”S and 106°47′47,991”E) in West Java during the period from February to August 2023. The study utilized 100 F 4 lines organized in an augmented design. The study focused on various agronomic traits, including plant height, panicle width, wet and dry panicle weight, and seed weight, as well as nutritional traits such as moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrate, starch, and amylose content. The findings revealed substantial genetic variability across the examined traits. Broad-sense heritability values were notably high, ranging from 52.02% to 99.45%, underscoring the significant influence of genetic factors on trait expression. Several yield-related traits exhibited high genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, indicating strong potential for effective selection. Correlation analysis identified positive relationships among yield components, particularly between seed weight and dry panicle weight. Through a weighted index, several lines were identified as promising, exhibiting superior agronomic performance and favorable nutritional profiles. These results suggest that the F 4 population under study holds considerable promise for the development of sorghum varieties with improved yield and nutritional quality, highlighting the critical role of genetic parameters in sorghum breeding initiatives aimed at enhancing yield and grain quality .

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