Combining ability of biomass sorghum in different crop years and sites for bioenergy generation

Abstract

AbstractBiomass sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is considered as a raw material of great potential for bioenergy generation. The objective of this study was to estimate the combining ability of biomass sorghum of A and R lines, carrying the bmr‐6 allele, evaluating different crop years and site effect, aiming at the bioenergetic potential for the production of second‐generation ethanol. Four male‐sterile lines (A), and 10 fertility restorative lines (R) were used, obtaining 40 hybrids bmr and sensitive to the photoperiod. From the F1 seeds, four experiments were conducted in different crop years and sites. The data were submitted to individual diallel analysis according to IV model proposed by Griffing (1956), adapted for partial diallel design by Geraldi and Miranda Filho (1988). Promising lines were identified to breeding line groups A and R, aiming to obtain new lines breeding to obtain superior hybrids. The crop year and site effects were significant for most traits. The use of partial diallel analysis is promising for the biomass sorghum breeding program and A and R lines with potential bioenergetic were identified for the production of second‐generation ethanol.