Principal component analysis for agronomic traits in multi-cut forage sorghum

The present investigation in fodder sorghum was conducted in parental entries for estimation of principal components involving thirteen yield and component traits. Four principal components (PCs) were identified reporting more than one Eigen values and explaining 86.51 percent of the cumulative variance attributing to divergence. The biplot constructed using first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) have identified traits exhibiting positive and negative correlation with total green fodder yield per plant. Based on the angle between trait vectors, the traits viz., number of leaves per plant at first cut, leaf length at first cut, number of nodes per plant at first, plant height at first and second cut, and number of tillers per plant at third cut have exhibited high positive correlation with total green fodder yield per plant. Thus, these traits can be considered important for selections in fodder sorghum hybrid breeding programmes.