Genetic Variation Effects and Association Analysis on Industrial and Agronomical Traits of Broomcorn ( Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench)

ABSTRACT Although the analysis of genetic variability, trait associations, genetic parameters and variance components is a prerequisite for designing efficient breeding programmes strategies, very limited research has been conducted on broomcorn. Hence, a total of four broomcorn male‐sterile lines and 24 broomcorn restorer lines were used to generate 96 hybrid combinations following the North Carolina Design II mating scheme. These combinations and their parent lines were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2 years to evaluate 12 industrial and agronomical traits. The degree of the coefficient of variation in broomcorn hybrids corresponded with that in their male‐sterile and restorer lines. Heritability ranged from 0.77 to 0.96. Plant height and fibre weight per plant exhibited the highest values of heritability and genetic advance as a percentage of mean. Additive effects predominated in the inheritance of fibre length, panicle exsertion, grain weight per panicle, peduncle length, 1000‐grain weight and plant height, whereas dominance effects were more prominent for threshed panicle weight, fibre weight per plant, number of fibres per panicle, fibre fineness, peduncle diameter and days to flowering. Based on the association analysis, high values of fibre length, number of fibres per panicle and peduncle diameter would enhance raw material yield improvement. A long peduncle usually exserted well. Meanwhile, values of panicle exsertion, peduncle length, grain weight per panicle and 1000‐grain weight should not be too high. This research provides a more comprehensive analysis of the genetic variation effects and association analysis on broomcorn. The findings will assist breeders in optimizing parental selection strategies and determining effective breeding procedures for broomcorn hybrid development.