Analysis of Hybrid Performance and Parental Combining Ability in Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

The experiment was confined to sixteen rabi sorghum hybrids (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), developed by crossing two female lines (AKMS 66-2A and 104A) with eight testers (RSLG 262, M 35-1, SPV 2758, SPV 2468, R 3777, R 196, R 91012 and PVK 801). These hybrids, along with the check (CSH 15R) and their parents, were evaluated for combining ability for eight yield-attributing and physiological characters during rabi 2022 and 2023 at RARS, Nandyal; ARS, Podalakur; and RARS, Lam (Guntur). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant genetic variability among the ten parents and sixteen hybrids for both yield and physiological traits. The general combining ability (GCA) effects and mean performance indicated that parents such as SPV 2758, M 35-1, R 3777, PVK 801, R 196, 104A and R 91012 were good general combiners for traits including plant height, panicle length, early maturity, grain yield, 100-grain weight and drought-related traits (SCMR, RWC and membrane stability). Hybrids namely 104A × R 196, 104A × PVK 801 and AKMS 66-2A × R 3777 exhibited high specific combining ability (SCA) effects along with superior mean performance, indicating their potential for exploitation in heterosis breeding. Overall, the identified superior parents and cross combinations can be effectively utilized in breeding programmes aimed at developing high-yielding and drought-tolerant rabi sorghum hybrids.