Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for grain yield and yield components in sorghum

Twenty six derived lines (named as AKENT number) along with one resistant line and two susceptible lines of Kharif sorghum were evaluated for yield and yield components. High genotypic coefficient of variation was observed for the character fodder yield per plant (27.31%) followed by 1000-seed weight (25.33%) whereas moderate for panicle breadth (15.17%), plant height (14.36%) and grain yield per plant (13.94%) and low for the character 50 per cent flowering (7.96%). High phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for the character fodder yield per plant (27.86%) followed by 1000-seed weight (26.78%) and panicle breadth (21.25%) whereas moderate for plant height (16.27 %) and grain yield per plant (15.24 %) and low for the character days to 50 per cent flowering (10.94 %). High heritability in broad sense was recorded for fodder yield per plant (96%), 1000-seed weight (89.4), grain yield per plant (83.6) and plant height (77.9), while moderate heritability was recorded for days to 50 per cent flowering (52.9%) and panicle breadth (50.9%). The highest genetic advance percentage over mean was observed for the character fodder yield per plant (55.14%) followed by 1000-seed weight (49.35%), grain yield per plant (26.25%), plant height (26.10%) and panicle breadth (22.32%) while for days to 50 per cent flowering the expected genetic advance was moderate (11.93%). The characters fodder yield per plant, 1000-seed weight, grain yield per plant and plant height exhibited high heritability values along with high values of expected genetic advance. The phenotypic expression of these characters may be governed by the genes acting additively and thereby indicating the importance of these characters for selection.