Population improvement in sorghum

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is the fifth important cereal crop in the world after wheat, rice, maize and barley. Of late, it has emerged as ‘fuel’ crop in addition to its food, feed and fodder utilities. Sorghum is predominantly a selfpollinated crop and development of new varieties is a natural option for crop improvement. However, there is 5 to 15% outcrossing depending upon the nature of genotype and humidity (House 1985), which makes it possible to use population improvement and hybrid development methods to exploit the heterosis. Discovery of genetic male sterility (GMS) (Table 8) and cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterility (CMS) facilitated the application of recurrent selection procedures (population improvement) and hybrid cultivar development methods, respectively, in sorghum improvement programs