Maarouf Mohammed

Forage Sorghum Hybrids: Breeding Prospective in the Sudan: Part I Maarouf Mohammed

Sorghum crop provides the bulk of the animal feed in Sudan where the second largest animal wealth in Africa exists; yet attempts to develop improved types of forage sorghum were lacking or very few. This book presents the first endeavor in the Sudan to explore the potential of locally developed forage sorghum hybrids. Most of our present knowledge about combining ability in sorghum was based on studies carried in temperate environments with materials limited to photoperiod conversion program. In this work, local genetic stocks beside exotic ones were used under tropical conditions . The heterosis study revealed significant gains in forage yield over the existing maxima including the introduced commercial hybrid. Since the exotic material may transfer unwelcome traits to their progenies, the choice of local x local hybrids was recommended. Scientists and workers in hybrid seed industry may find this book interesting, as it introduces them to the potentialities of sorghum variability in Sudan. Students of genetics and plant breeding may also find this book informative, specifically in the area of heterosis and genetic analysis.