Genetic variability and heritability in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) germplasm lines

Sorghum shoot fly (Atherigona soccata Rond.) one of the major constraints in sorghum production and host plant resistant is one of the component to control to sorghum shoot fly. The present study was carried out to assess the variability in sorghum germplasm lines for shoot fly resistant traits. The experiment was conducted in Randomized block design (RBD) with two replication on the farm of Sorghum research station, VNMKV, Parbhani during rabi 2015 with 116 sorghum germplasm lines and four checks. Observation were recorded on sixteen characters viz., deadheart percentage, trichome density, leaf glossiness, seedling vigour, leaf wetness, Plumule and leaf sheath pigmentation, chlorophyll content, plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf angle, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, 100 seed weight and grain yield per plant. The data were collected and analyzed for genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation (GCV and PCV), heritability, and expected genetic advance. Analysis of variance showed the significant variability for all the traits studied and suggesting presence of wide range of variation among the genotypes for all the characters. The genotypic coefficient of variation was lower than the phenotypic coefficient of variation for all the characters, indicating the importance in hybridization programme for generating variability. High estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were observed for the traits dead heart percent at 14 (31.60 and 33.57) and 28 (35.85 and 36.57) DAE, trichome density (adaxial (74.36 and 74.47) and abaxial (111.53 and 111.66), Plumule and leaf sheath pigmentation (41.93 and 44.26), number of tillers (27.00 and 46.33) and grain yield per plant (42.56 and 46.19). The traits dead heart %, trichome density both at adaxial and abaxial side of leaf surfaces, leaf glossiness, Plumule and leaf sheath pigmentation and grain yield per plant, exhibiting higher gcv and pcv values along with high estimates of heritability and genetic advance were considered most important and selection for these characters could be more effective for improving shoot fly resistance.