Abstract

Seven sweet sorghum B lines were crossed with four grain sorghum B lines in a line x tester design and evaluated for grain yield. Three parameters namely, combining ability effects, heterosis per cent and per se performance were analysed and compared. SS 6B and SS 5B among the lines and 648 B among the testers possessed high gca effects and high per se value. All these parameters answered positively and favourably in the hybrid combination SS 5B x 3660 B and these three parameters can be utilised as criteria for selection of genotypes. In the case of two hybrids, SS 128 x 296 B and SS 4B x 648 B, the per cent hybrid vigour and sca effects were very high and the per se performance was also high in spite of the fact the gca effects of either one or both of the parents were significantly low and these combinations could result in the capitalisation of non additive effects over the super structure of additive gene effects.

Keywords: Sweet Sorghum, Heterosis, Combining ability.