Genetic Analysis in an F2 Population Derived from Indonesian Local Sorghum with New Superior Variety

Abstract

Genetic analysis and inheritance patterns studies on agronomic and yield characters were required to develop a plant breeding program. This study aimed to obtain information on agronomic and yield performance, gene action, genetic diversity, and heritability in the F2 population derived from crosses of local and high-yielding varieties. The study was conducted in August-November 2021 in Dramaga, Bogor. The F2 sorghum population, female and male parents, and also ten check genotypes were used in this study. The results showed qualitative characters in the F2 population indicated the female parent trait was strongly inherited in F2. A few genes controlled the quantitative characters via additive gene action for days to flowering, plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, panicle length and diameter, also wet and dry panicle weight. Meanwhile, the leaf number and width, also grain weight per panicle were controlled by complementary epistasis. The wet and dry panicle weight had a significant positive correlation (0.9 and 0.95) with grain weight per panicle although there had low h2bs (0%). Panicle length and diameter could be used as indirect selection characters because of their significant positive correlation (0.67 and 0.7) to grain yield and high h2bs (90 and 80%).

Keywords: gene action, local variety, productivity, variance