Genetic analysis for morphological, quality and biofuel related traits in sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

The present investigation was aimed to study the relationship between different methods of diallel data analysis of ethanol yield traits in sweet sorghum to select the relevant superior genotypes. Half-diallel hybrid analysis revealed that both general and specific combining abilities were significant for all the traits studied but the specific combining ability (SCA) was higher than the general combining ability (GCA), suggesting that the non-additive gene action is more important than additive one in controlling the studied traits. Graphically, traits of juice extraction percent, juice yield, and stripped stalk yield were most correlated with ethanol yield. Griffing and GT-biplot analyses produced equivalent results for GCA and SCA and were useful in estimating gene action by identifying the superior crosses across all the correlated traits and comparing the genotypes based on multiple traits. For the ethanol yield trait, genotype, Rio showed good GCA and was considered the best combiner parent, while crosses, Sugar Dribx Ramada and Sugar Drib x Honey may be used for the selection of the relevant traits in sorghum breeding programs to improve ethanol yield trait.