USING EGYPTIAN RESTORER LINES iN GRAIN SORGHUM HYBRIDS PRODUCTION (Sorghum bicolor L. MOENCH)

Three advanced generation genotypes released from the Egyptian Sorghum




Breeding Program were used for crossing with seven cytoplasmic male sterile tines I




n order to involve the adapted restorer gene in our released grain sorghum hybrids.




The twenty-one crosses and their parents were evaluated in a randomized complete




block design at two locations, Shandwell Agric. Res. Farm and Assiut Agric. Res.




Farm, in 2002 season. The genetic parameters were estimated by using line x tester




analysis.




The obtained data at the both locations revealed that crosses had highly




significant differences among all studied traits. AU the crosses were earlier at Assiut




than at Shandwell. For grain yield at Shandwell, eight crosses had higher grain yield




than the check (Shandweet-6) one of them (ICSA-89003 x Ad.1 ) (120.69 g/plant) was




significantly higher than the check (95.13 g/plant) white, non of the crosses yielded




more than the check at Assiut, that may be due to Assiut farm is coarse sandy soil




and that is clear in the heterosis which was high at Assiut compare with the heterosiS




at Shandwell and that due to the lines were unable to yield under the harsh




environments at Assiut as crosses did. For general combining ability (GCA) of grain




yield, the restorer line Ad.1 had positive and highly significant GCA effect at




Shandwell (loamy-soil), while, Ad.2 had the same trend at Assiut that means the




genotype Ad.2 more adapted for the coarse sandy soil. For specific combining ability




(SCA) of grain yield at Shandwell, ten crosses had positive and significantly SCA




affect while, at Assiut, seven crosses had positive and significantly SCA effect. The




cross (ICSA-89003 x Ad.1) at Shandwell, which was yielded significantly more than




the check, can be tested in a large SCAle before using it as a commercial hybrid in




clay and loamy soil.