ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC PARAMETERS IN SEGREGATING POPULATIONS OF SORGHUM ( SORGHUM BICOLOR L.)

The development of sorghum breeding must continue with an assessment of genetic parameters in developing sorghum lines. Hence, the presented study sought to estimate the genetic variation, heritability, and gain in the selected F3 populations obtained by crossing the sorghum parental genotypes 'Bioguma-1' and 'Gando keta.' The study transpired from June to October 2022 in the experimental field of Citayam Depok, Indonesia. Plant materials consisted of 160 lines from 18 selected genotypes in F2 using an augmented experimental design, with 'Bioguma-1' and 'Gando keta' as checks and parents. Based on performance, the selection of sorghum lines G01 (4-1), G02 (1-5), G03 (3-3), G04 (3-4), G05 (3-6), and G06 (3-8) proceeded for evaluation in the next generation for seed weight traits and similarity traits to cultivar Bioguma-1. The predicted genetic gain in the F4 populations will further enhance seed weight compared with the F3 populations and parental lines by 33.3% and, consequently, the superior sorghum genotypes for releasing as new cultivars with high yield components, broader stem and panicle diameter, and shorter plant.