Phenotypic Variation of Sorghum Accessions for Grain Yield and Quality Traits

Millions of people depend on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) as a staple food crop. Due to the ever-changing climate, more focus should be placed on sorghum as it can grow in environments that are marginal for maize (Zea mays L.) and other grain crops. Identification of unique accessions with desirable phenotypic variations allow plant breeders to use the accessions as parental material in a breeding program. The objectives of this study were to determine the extent of diversity in sorghum accessions based on grain yield and quality traits, as well as to identify accessions with high grain yield. One hundred sorghum accessions were evaluated at Potchefstroom (South Africa) in two consecutive growing seasons. The experiment was laid out in a 20 × 5 alpha lattice design with three replications. ANOVA showed highly significant (p = 0.01) variation among the accessions for all traits. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.209) between starch and grain yield. Seven high-yielding accessions with high protein and seven accessions with high starch were identified. These accessions could be used for improving yield, protein and starch in the grain. Tannin content ranged from zero to 24.40 mgCE/100 mg; 75 accessions were characterized as type I. Seven accessions were characterized as type II, and 18 accessions were characterized as type III. The 100 sorghum accessions were grouped into five distinct clusters that offer a wide range of phenotypic variation for the traits studied.