Genetic Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance and Trait Associations in Selected Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench) Accessions in Ethiopia

Genetic variability can be defined as the genetic makeup of organisms within a population change. The objective of this study aims to analyze and determine the traits having greater interrelationship with grain yield utilizing the correlation and path analysis and to estimate the genetic variations, heritability and expected genetic advance in the selected sorghum accessions. The experiment was conducted in 2017 planting season in Jimma Agricultural research station during the main season and row column design was used with two replications. 84 introduced sorghum accessions were evaluated in this experiment and the analysis of variance exhibited there was a significant variation among the genotypes for the traits studied. Plant height, head weight, grain yield, rust, days to fifty percent flowering displayed high heritability. Moreover, these traits also have high genetic advance and high genotypic coefficient of variation. The correlation analysis revealed that grain yield displayed positive and significant genetic correlation with number of heads per plot, head weight per plot, days to fifty percent flowering, days to maturity. However, negative genetic correlation with plant aspect, bird damage, grain mold 1,2,3 (1-5 grain mold score) within ten days interval. Thus, number of heads per plot, head weight per plot, plant height, panicle length and panicle width are most important yield contributing traits. Therefore, selection based on these traits studied is important and effective for plant breeding. The path analysis revealed that plant height and panicle length displayed significant and positive direct effect on grain yield. However, head weight per plot, number of heads per plot and panicle width exhibited negative and significant indirect effect with grain yield. This revealed that there is wide range of genetic variability among the genotypes used for all of the traits tested. Therefore, it is important to know this high genetic variability for farther breeding program. In addition to this, high heritability (H2) and high genetic advance (GA) are also important for the improvement of the traits through plant breeding (selection). Keywords: Heritability, genetic variance, phenotypic variance, genetic advance, path analysis, phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-12-01 Publication date:June 30th 202