YS-18 A SINGLE STAND SORGHUM VARIETY WITH IMPROVED STALK AND YIELD POTENTIAL FOR AUTUMN SOWING

Abstract

The high pace of increasing population along with the diminishing effects of global warming are putting immense pressure on the agriculture system in terms of food security. Great concerns regarding yield enhancement have emerged for crops feeding livestock and the dairy industry. The development of high-yielding dual-purpose fodder varieties is a concurrent demand in breeding programs designed for grain and fodder yield improvement. Sorghum as being highly nutritious and low-input crop provides good prospects for breeding improvement. Because of this, this work was designed with the breeding strategy for sorghum grain and fodder yield improvement. Successive selection cycles with head-to-row, similar plant type, and bulking were adopted among the filial progeny of a cross between two lines ICS73 and ICSR8003. The uniform line YS-18 was then subjected to evaluation at the station and national yield trials. YS-18 secured 22% and 5% yield increase in station trials during 2018 and 2019 over the previously released check variety YS-16. In National uniform Yield Trials, the yield benefit of new candidate line YS-18 was 17% and 27% during 2020 and 2021. Variability studies indicate more grain (14%) and fodder (13%) yield potential than YS-16. This productivity enhancement with 6000 kg/hac grain yield potential and 40000 kg/hac fodder yield is a succession of targeted breeding strategy. Early maturing YS-18 bears sweet juicy stems with stay green broad leaves and long head size that have the potential to be utilized as green feed at cattle farms and the dairy industry. This work will provide a better understanding to a researcher for designing breeding programs for the development of high-yielding germplasm in crops.