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Sorghum is a multipurpose crop being used as food, feed, fodder and fuel. The objective of the study was to investigate breeding values of new F1 forage sorghum hybrids using line x tester crossing of six A1 cytoplasm type male sterile lines with five fertile local inbred lines and varieties, and 30 F1 hybrids were produced. Both parental lines and their F1 hybrids were field-evaluated for yield and quality traits for two successive years. On the basis of two year hybrids evaluation programme, the lines, 637 A and 753 A were good general combiners for fodder yield and related traits and the lines 467A was found good general combiner for total soluble solids TSS. The testers HJ 541 and IS 2389 were found good general combiners for various yield traits and TSS. On the basis of specific combining ability, the crosses 467A X 2389, 725A X 308, 2219A X G46 and 2219A X HJ 541 were found to be promising for yield related traits. The crosses 467A X 2389, 637AX HJ 541, 637A X HC 308 exhibited good standard heterosis for fodder yield and related traits and the crosses 9A X 2389, 725A X 2389 and 753A X 2389 for TSS. On the basis of above study 467A X 2389 hybrid was found to be promising for fodder yield and related traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement in multi-cut forage sorghum varieties that can perform better than SSG 59-3, a sweet Sudan grass released in 1974, has been a challenge. Efforts were made to create variability in SSG 59-3 through mutagenesis using both physical and chemical mutagens. Fifteen such mutants were evaluated for 2 years in different locations in India. Considerable variability was observed for important fodder yield and quality traits. SSG 237 flowered 10 d early than SSG 59-3. SSG 231, SSG 260, SSG 232 and SSG 237 had high protein percentage and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) values compared with SSG 59-3. Hydrocyanic acid (HCN), a major anti-nutritional factor, was low in six mutants, the lowest being in SSG 226. This variability can be used in different breeding programmes aimed at improving multi-cut forage sorghum varieties. The lines with improved fodder quality (low HCN, high protein and IVDMD) can be used in the breeding programme for the improvement in multi-cut forage sorghum varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different guar cultivars and the wild species of explants such as the hypocotyls, cotyledon, and mature embryo were used for callus induction and these explants along with cotyledonary node explants were used for direct shoot morphogenesis. It was established that Murashige and Skoog culture medium containing 2,4- D (2.5 mg/l) and 6-benzylaminopurine (0.5 mg/l) gave the highest frequency of callus induction using mature embryo explants in guar cultivars as well as wild species. Over 2-3 shoots per explants were observed via somatic embryogenesis on MS medium supplemented with NAA 2.0 mg/l+ BAP 0.5mg/l+ Charcoal 3g/l)) In cultivars HG 563 and FS 277 using mature embryo as explants. Direct shoot regeneration was observed using cotyledonary node explants in guar cultivars and its wild species on MS medium containing Kinetin (1.0 mg/l)+ BAP 0.5 (mg/l) and maximum 2-3 of shoots per explants were observed on medium supplemented with Kinetin (1.0 mg/l ) + BAP 0.5 (mg/l) and Zeatin (1.0mg/l). No shoot regeneration was observed in cotyledon, mature embryo, hypocotyl explants of the guar cultivars and the wild species. In vifrorooting was observed on somatic embryo derived shoots on a half-strength concentration of Murashige and Skoog's culture medium fortified with Indole-3-butyric acid (0.5 mg/l) + charcoal (3g/l). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]