General and specific combining ability in sweet sorghum

• Published in: Crop breeding and applied biotechnology Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 365 - 372
• Main Authors: Rocha, Mara Jane da, Nunes, José Airton Rodrigues, Parrella, Rafael Augusto da Costa, Leite, Pakizza Sherma da Silva, Lombardi, Gabrielle Maria Romeiro, Moura, Mayra Luiza Costa, Schaffert, Robert Eugene, Bruzi, Adriano Teodoro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vicosa Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology 01-12-2018
• Subjects: AGRONOMY; BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY; Combining ability; Fertility; Genetic effects; Hybrids; Lattice design; Plant breeding; Sorghum; parent selection; Sorghum bicolor; hybrid breeding; partial diallel
• ISSN: 1518-7853; 1984-7033; 1984-7033
• DOI: 10.1590/1984-70332018v18n4a55

In breeding of sweet sorghum hybrids, non-additive genetic effects are important in phenotypic expression of the traits of interest. The aim of this study was to evaluate the general combining ability (GCA) of sweet sorghum lines and the specific combining ability (SCA) of the hybrids for agronomic and technological traits. Five fertility restorer lines, four male-sterile lines, and their hybrids from partial diallel crosses were evaluated in experiments laid out in a 5 x 6 triple rectangular lattice design in the municipalities of Lavras, MG and Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil. Diallel analysis was performed using the Griffing model adapted to partial diallel crosses. There was a significant effect of GCA and SCA for most of the traits evaluated, indicating the participation of additive or dominant genes in inheritance. The restorer lines CMSX508, BRS 511, CMSXS643, and CMSXS646 show potential for use as parents in sorghum breeding programs.