Genetic Variability, Heritability and Correlation Studies in Fifty Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Accessions Collected from Southern Nigeria

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important food crop in southern Nigeria with high genetic variability. However, this variability is not characterized. Fifty sorghum accessions collected from different states in southern Nigeria were evaluated for eleven agronomic characters to determine the extent of genetic variability and character association among the accessions. The experiments were laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Ondo State and Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu research farm during the rainy season of 2018 and 2019. Data were collected on eleven quantitative traits for genetic variability and character association. Panicle weight had the highest GCV (24.96%) and PCV (30.61%). Ten out of the eleven traits have heritability estimates above 50% which implies an opportunity for improvement among the traits with the number of days to 50% heading having the highest (98.84%). Correlation analysis showed significant and positive association among growth, flowering traits and head traits. The strong positive correlation coefficients of plant height with all the traits implies that simultaneous selection for these traits is possible for improvement in sorghum genotypes for fodder and grain traits.

Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis of Certain Biometrical Traits among Fenugreek Genotypes under Different Environmental Conditions

Background: Fenugreek is grown under various agro-climatic conditions of the world as well as in India. However, overall yield and quality depends upon various quantitative characters that exist during crop growth period. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the character association and path coefficient analysis among the seed yield and yield contributing characters in fenugreek genotype. Methods: Thirty genotypes were sown with three replications under two environments namely normal (E1) and limited (E2) irrigation conditions during Rabi season 2019-20. The experiment was laid down in RBD. Result: The genotypic and phenotypic correlations were exhibited significantly positive for number of pods per plant (0.765, 0.725 and 0.670, 0.651), number of seeds per pod (0.705, 0.650 and 0.666, 0.640) and pod length (0.376, 0.348 and 0.351, 0.327) with seed yield per plant in both the environments i.e. E1 and E2. The highest direct effect on seed yield per plant was observed for number of pods per plant (0.693, 0.602 and 1.030, 0.754), number of seed per pod (0.396, 0.378 and 0.490, 0.421) and test weight (0.338, 0.304 and 0.405, 0.368) at genotypic and phenotypic levels in both environments i.e. E1 and E2.

Character association and path analysis studies on seed yield and its yield attributing traits in Kharif sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

The experiment was carried out to determine the character association and path analysis with 20 genotype including national check namely GT-10, TKG-22, zonal check JTS-8. The genotype was grown in (RBD) design with 3 Replication during Kharif 2020 at BTC College of Agriculture and Research station Bilaspur CG. The data were collected for nine quantitative and yield attributing traits. The correlation co-efficient analysis is the index of relationship among two variables. These have been dealing in all possible combinations for important traits at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Seed yield plant-1 was highly significant and positively correlated with plant height, followed by number of primary branches plant-1, capsules length, number of capsules plant-1, number of seed capsule-1 days to maturity at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path analysis at phenotypic level among the characters studied, plant height (cm) had the highest direct effect (0.7479) towards seed yield per plant followed by number of primary branches plant-1 (0.5868) capsule length (0.3827) no of capsule plant-1 (0.3521) number of seed capsule-1 (0.2818) days to maturity (0.289) negative direct effect were recorded for days to 50% flowering (-0.0327) 1000 seed weight (- 02147). Demonstrating the fact that there was a real and positive connection between these characters will help determine which type of character is needed for crop improvement.

Impact of Bi-Parental Mating on Character Association in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Correlation between grain yield and contributing characters in 100 biparental progenies (BIPs) developed from a barley cross RD-2035 x RD-2552 and corresponding F3 progenies were compared. The correlation coefficients in BIPs were found generally of higher magnitude than F3 progenies. Even, non-significant negative association in F3 between grain yield per plant and harvest index converted into significant and positive in BIP progenies. Higher degree of positive and significant correlation was observed in tillers per plant, spikelets per spike and grain per spike with grain yield per plant in BIPs as well as F3 population.