Combining Ability of Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor (L) Moench) Inbred Lines

Sorghum is an indigenous crop and remains a basic staple food in Africa. It production is widespread with low yields due to low inputs and the lack of sorghum hybrids. The low production in Mali is due to several reasons including lack of hybrids and adapted varieties with tolerance to stresses such as drought. The main objective of this study was to improve sorghum grain yield, through the development of high yielding hybrids tolerant to post flowering drought. The parents, B and Rf-line, useful for developing hybrids for wider adaptation in semi-arid regions were identified. These parents were sown for making crosses in NCII mating design. A total of 60 F1 hybrids were obtained. They were planted along with six lines used as check and were evaluated in both drought and well-watered conditions. Results revealed three hybrids as the most drought tolerant genotypes with high yield stability in both well-watered and water stress conditions. Two female B-lines and one male R-line parent had highest grain yield in both environments. The hybrids and parental lines can be introduced as post-flowering drought tolerant genotypes after further evaluation in the semi-arid regions of Mali.