(33-38) Hud et al (2016) Effect of Water Stress on Vegetative Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) Genotypes

Abdisamid A. Hud1, Atif I. Abuali1*, Maria H. Elnasikh1, Mohamed I. Ahmed2, Atif E. Idris3, Adil M. Farah4 , Hatim A. Ali1, Bahaeldin B. Mohamed1, Amir E. Babiker1 and Eltayeb A. Mohamed1
1Environment, Natural Resources and Desertification Research Institute, National Centre for Research, P.O. Box 6096, Khartoum, Sudan
2Crop Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Bakhat Al-Ruda, El-Dueim, White Nile State, Sudan
3Agronomy Department, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 71, Shambat, Khartoum North, Sudan
4Salinity Research Station, Agricultural Research Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry
*Corresponding author E-mail: abbualii@yahoo.com
Accepted: 1st December 2016, Published: 31st December 2016
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during autumn season 2015 in semi arid zone of Sudan, at two different sites namely; Demonstration Farm of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bakhat AlRuda University, El-Dueim, White Nile State, and the Salinity Research Station, Agricultural Research Cooperation, Soba, Khartoum State. The objectives were to estimate the genetic variability of sweet sorghum lines under drought stress conditions, and to identify the most tolerant lines under such conditions. Six lines of sweet sorghum selected from forty genotypes, based on high yielding ability and high juice and drought stress resistance, were evaluated using a split- plot design with three replications. Three watering regimes were applied, namely, water stress during vegetative and grain filling stages and well-watering as a control. Genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and drought tolerance parameters were determined. Results obtained showed that, non-significant differences were detected between the genotypes for most of the studied characters except plant height, grain yield/plant and number of seeds/head. Water stress at vegetative stage significantly reduced number of grains/head of all genotypes, and so, it caused a greater grain yield (ton/ha) reduction than water stress at other stages. Water deficit during vegetative and grain filling stages reduced grain yields by 10% and 2.8% on average in comparison to control, respectively. High genotypic coefficient of variation and heritability were exhibited by juice yield/plant. A wide range of genetic variability was detected by genotypes for drought tolerance. According to their high yield and tolerance under drought conditions, the genotypes G6 and G8 could be used for further breeding program to improve drought tolerance in sweet sorghum.
Keywords: Cereal, genetic variability, lines, drought tolerance.

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