Potential traits for aiding selection for high grain yield based on trait association and path analysis in sorghum

Journal of Underutilised Crops Research

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Potential traits for aiding selection for high grain yield based on trait association and path analysis in sorghum
 
Creator Chibvongodze, Miriam K. Gasura, Edmore Kamutando, Casper N. Mabasa, Stanford Makovere, Brighton Nyakudya, Elijah Nhamo, Ancilia Mtambanengwe, Florence Mapfumo, Paul
 
Subject Life sciences; crop sciences; crop breeding correlated traits; drought stress; secondary traits; sorghum breeding; sorghum grain yield
Description Background: Simultaneous breeding of grain yield and desirable agronomic traits are effective when the traits are positively correlated and heritability is high. Knowledge of the magnitude of trait contribution is essential in hastening crop breeding progress.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the correlations and path analysis of yield traits in grain sorghum.Setting: The experiment was conducted in three different agro-ecological regions in Zimbabwe.Methods: A total of 20 experimental sorghum genotypes were evaluated during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 cropping seasons across five sites representing primary sorghum production areas in Zimbabwe. A randomised complete block design replicated thrice was used. Correlation and path analysis were performed.Results: Correlation analysis showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) and positive correlation between grain yield and days to 50% flowering (phenotypic correlation [rp] = 0.48; genotypic correlation [rg] = 0.53), days to 95% physiological maturity (rp = 0.59; rg = 0.31) and panicle length (rp = 0.61; rg = 0.57) over the two seasons at both phenotypic and genotypic level. The path analysis revealed that days to 50% flowering (Pp = 0.185; Pg = 0.280), days to 95% physiological maturity (phenotypic path coefficient [Pp] = 0.169; genotypic path coefficient [Pg] = 0.201) and panicle length (Pp = 0.354; Pg = 0.194), had significant (p ≤ 0.05) positive direct effects on sorghum grain yield at both phenotypic and genotypic level. Days to 50% flowering and panicle length had high heritability of 0.72 and 0.86, respectively.Conclusion: Breeders are recommended to select high sorghum grain yielding genotypes through days to 50% flowering and panicle length making effective indirect selection for sorghum grain improvement.Contribution: Identification and use of correlated traits for grain yield saves resources and increases breeding efficiency.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2025-06-13
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Research
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/jucr.v4i1.23
 
Source Journal of Underutilised Crops Research; Vol 4, No 1 (2025); 10 pages 2958-0994 3105-4277
 
Language eng
 
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The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://underutilisedcrops.org/index.php/jucr/article/view/23/74 https://underutilisedcrops.org/index.php/jucr/article/view/23/75 https://underutilisedcrops.org/index.php/jucr/article/view/23/76 https://underutilisedcrops.org/index.php/jucr/article/view/23/77
 
Coverage Tropical Savanna — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 Miriam K. Chibvongodze, Edmore Gasura, Casper N. Kamutando, Stanford Mabasa, Brighton Makovere, Elijah Nyakudya, Ancilia Nhamo, Florence Mtambanengwe, Paul Mapfumo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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