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Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] originated in Africa, has extremely drought tolerant ability makes it an excellent choice for arid and dry areas. It is one of the major multi-purpose crops grown for forage and grain production purpose. Among forage crops, forage sorghum could be a strategic option because of its xerophilic characteristics, adaptation potential, quick growing habit, good ratoonability, palatability, digestibility and wide range of potential uses as green fodder, dry roughage, hay and silage.

Sorghum is fast-growing, warm weather annual crop that can provide plenty of feed in mid-summer during lean period of fodder availability (Hovny et al., 2001).
Sorghum is popular as a dual purpose crop and is next to rice and wheat in its acreage and importance in India. It is well known that the animal industry in any country revolves around sufficient quantity of good quality feed and fodder (Siddiqui & Baig,2001). Stable hybrids are desirable for commercial exploitation over a wide range of agro-climatic conditions. Their adaptability in real sense is due to the genetic make-up. The Eberhart and Russell (1966) method would be of great help, because it not only provides measure and magnitude of linear and non-linear genotype x environment interaction but also gives estimate of stability parameters of individual hybrid. Stability of a hybrid depends on the ability to retain certain morphological and physiological characters steadily and allowing other to vary, resulting in predictable genotype x environment interactions for yield. Keeping the above points in view, the present investigation was undertaken with the following objective to identify stable hybrids over various environments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hybrids were developed in a Line × Tester mating fashion on six females (lines) using four males (testers). The crosses were made in research area of Forage section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS HAU, Hisar during the kharif season of 2014-15. Hybrids and parents were evaluated at two locations i.e. research area of Forage Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar and Regional Research Station Uchani, Karnal with two date of sowing (Early and late sowing) during the kharif season of 2015-16. All the thirty-six genotypes (24 hybrids, 10 parents and two standard checks (SSG 59-3 and MFSH 4) were grown in a randomized block design in three replications of a two-row plot of 4.0 m length. All the recommended cultural package of practices was followed from sowing to harvesting of the crop.
Data on five randomly taken plants from each genotype in each replication were recorded on different quality characters viz. TSS content (total soluble sugars), protein content (%), protein yield (g/plant), IVDMD [(in vitro dry matter digestibility (%)], dry matter digestibility [DDM (g/plant)] and HCN content (mg/kg green weight) in all the four environments at first cut (55 days after sowing) and second cut (45 days after first cut). The estimates of stability parameters viz., mean ( ), regression coefficient (bi) and deviation from regression (di2) of all the 24 crosses along with ten parents and two checks for all the characters under study were estimated.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results of analysis of variance for phenotypic stability based on Eberhart and Russell’s (1966) model stated that mean sum of squares due to genotypes for all the characters were highly significant when tested against pooled deviation, which revealed that the hybrids had significant differences in response to varying environmental conditions. When the mean sum of square due to environment (linear) was tested against pooled deviation, it was found significantly different for all the characters studied. This indicated that the environments were significantly different and warranted estimation of G × E interactions.  Significance of pooled deviation for all the traits showed that these hybrids differed significantly with respect to their stability for these traits.
Out of total 36 genotypes (24 hybrids, 10 parents and 2 checks) only six hybrids, four parents and check SSG 59-3  had both bi and di2 non significant, indicating the absence of G × E interaction. Two hybrids were found to have both bi and di2 significant, indicating the presence of both linear and non-linear components of G × E interaction. However, only one hybrid and one parent were found to have significant bi, indicating the presence of linear component. Fifteen hybrids, five parents and check MFSH 4 were found to have significant di2, indicating the presence of non-linear component.
Total soluble sugars (TSS)
Three hybrids and two parents had both bi and di2 non significant, indicating the absence of G × E interaction. Twelve hybrids, six parents and check SSG 59-3 had both bi and di2 significant, indicating the presence of both linear and non-linear components of G × E interaction. One parent and check MFSH 4 were found to have significant bi, indicating the presence of linear component. Nine hybrids and one parent were found to have significant di2, indicating the presence of non-linear component.
Protein content
Results revealed that three hybrids out of 36 genotypes had both bi and di2 non significant, indicating the absence of G × E interaction. Five hybrids were found to have both bi and di2 significant, indicating the presence of both linear and non-linear components of G × E interaction. Three hybrids, one parent and check MFSH 4 were found to have significant bi, indicating the presence of linear component. Thirteen hybrids, nine parents and check SSG 59-3 were found to have significant di2, indicating the presence of non-linear component.
Protein yield per plant
Out of 36 genotypes, only three hybrids, three parents and checks (SSG 59-3 and MFSH 4) had both bi and di2 non significant, indicating the absence of G × E interaction. Seven hybrids were found to have both bi and di2 significant, indicating the presence of both linear and non-linear components of G × E interaction. Three hybrids and one parent were found to have significant bi, indicating the presence of linear component. Eleven hybrids and six parents were found to have significant di2, indicating the presence of non-linear component.
In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD)
Results revealed that seven hybrids, two parents and check SSG 59-3 out of 36 genotypes had both bi and di2 non significant, indicating the absence of G × E interaction. Two hybrids were found to have both bi and di2 significant, indicating the presence of both linear and non-linear components of G × E interaction. Two parents were found to have significant bi, indicating the presence of linear component. Fifteen hybrids, six parents and check MFSH 4 were found to have significant di2, indicating the presence of non-linear component.
Dry matter digestibility per plant (DDM)
A critical examination of the results revealed that thirteen hybrids, six parents and checks (SSG 59-3 and MFSH 4) out of 36 genotypes had both bi and di2 non significant, indicating the absence of G × E interaction. Two hybrids were found to have both bi and di2 significant, indicating the presence of both linear and non-linear components of G × E interaction. Eight hybrids and two parents were found to have significant di2, indicating the presence of non-linear component.
HCN content
Out of 36 genotypes, five hybrids and five parents had both bi and di2 non significant, indicating the absence of G × E interaction. Three hybrids were found to have both bi and di2 significant, indicating the presence of both linear and non-linear components of G × E interaction. Fifteen hybrids, five parents and checks (SSG 59-3 and MFSH 4) were found to have significant di2, indicating the presence of non-linear component. The cross combination of 14A × HJ 513, 31A × HJ 541 and 14A × IS 2389 were found stable, average responsive and suitable for all the test environments for HCN content. On the otherhand, hybrids 465A × G 46 and 465A × IS 2389 and parent G 46 were found highly responsive and suitable for the favourable environments.

It further revealed that hybrids reacted differently in different environments. This indicated that the environments were significantly different and warranted for estimation of G × E interaction in which both linear as well as non-linear components were equally important.

Table 1: Promising stable hybrids identified for different characters in forage sorghum

 

Hybrid 56A × HJ 541 for TSS content and 31A × G 46 for protein yield were found stable, average responsive and suitable for all the test environments whereas hybrids 56A × HJ 513 and 31A × G 46 were found stable, average responsive and suitable for all the test environments for protein content.
In case of IVDMD  and DDM, hybrid, 56A × IS 2389 was found to be stable, average responsive and suitable for all the test environments whereas hybrids 14A × HJ 513, 31A × HJ 541 and 14A × IS 2389 were found stable, average responsive and suitable for all the test environments for HCN content.
Similar results have been reported by Patil et al. (1991), Reddy et al. (2004), Mukri (2007), Amit et al. (2007), Kher et al. (2008), Sharanabasappa (2009) and Sameer et al. (2010).

REFERENCES

Eberhart, S. A., & Russell, W. A. (1966). Stability analysis for comparing varieties. Crop Science, 6, 36-40.
Hovny, M. R. A., Menshawi, M. M., & Nagouly, O. O. (2001). Combining ability and heterosis in grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Bulletin of the Faculty of Science of Cairo University, 52, 47-60.
Kher, H. R., Parmar, H. P., Gangani, M. K., & Paramar, D. G. (2008). Stability analysis for fodder yield in forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Crop Research, 36(1/3), 244-245.
Mukri, G. (2007). Genetic studies on seed setting behaviour and other productivity traits in rabi Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. M.Sc. (Agri) Thesis, University Agriculture Sciences Dharwad, (India).
Patil, H. S., Narkhede, B. N., & Bapat, D. R. (1991). Stability parameters in sorghum. Journal of Maharashtra Agriculture University, 16, 13-15.
Reddy, P., Maruthishankar, G. R., & Das, N. D. (2004). Genotype x environment interactions in Rabi Sorghum. Journal of Maharashtra Agricultural Universities. 29, 21-24.
Sameer, C. V., Shivani, D., & Suresh. M. (2010). Genotype x environment interactions for seed and fodder yields in rabi sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) genotypes. Abstract published in research and development in millets: present status and future strategies in national seminar on millets- Nov 12, 2010 at Hyderabad.
Sharanabasappa, (2009). Genetic studies in advanced breeding lines for Shootfly tolerance and productivity traits in rabi sorghum. M.Sc. (Agri) Thesis, University Agriculture Sciences Dharwad, (India).
Siddiqui, M. A., & Baig, K. S. (2001). Combining ability analysis for yield and its components characters in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The Journal of Research, ANGRAU, 29, 27-34.