ESTIMATION OF HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY TOWARD MORPHOLOGICAL, YIELD AND QUALITY TRAITS IN TEN SWEET SORGHUM PARENTAL GENOTYPES BY LINE × TESTER ANALYSIS

This study was done to estimate general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and heterosis regarding better for ten sweet sorghum parental genotypes. Seven lines and three testers were crossed in line ×tester mating fashion on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at Giza Agriculture Research Station during 2020, 2021 and, 2022 summer seasons. The results showed, significant differences among mean square of parental genotypes and their crosses for all studied traits, suggested present of additive and non-additive genetic variance. In addition, significant mean squares of parents vs. crosses, indicated significant average of heterosis. Besides, the highest values of mean performance were parental genotypes, Brands, Sugar drib, MN1054, MN4080, MN5509 and MN4423, and crosses Brands X MN1054, Ramada X MN4080, Ramada X MN5509, Ramada X MN4423, Sugar drib X MN1054, Sugar drib X MN4080 and Sugar drib X MN1383. Additionally, the best parental genotype that had good GCA effects was MN4423 for most studied traits which may be used in breeding programs for developing high yield varieties. While, the excellent crosses based on SCA effects values were Brands X MN5509, Ramada X MN2756, Ramada X MN1054 and Sugar drib X MN1383. Finally, Heterosis values varied from cross to cross and from trait to trait, which considered promising crosses in breeding programs.