Abstract
This study had two distinct components: an agronomic/breeding segment and a sorghum malt component. The first consisted of field evaluation for traits related to agronomic performance, combining ability, and heterosis. It was conducted during 1988 and 1989. The 1988 trial, with 51 genotypes, was sown at College station and Halfway, TX. During 1989, the trial consisted of 7 females and 13 male parents, their 91 hybrids, a common check (ATx399*RTx430), and another hybrid check in one subset (ATx399*SC103-12E) to balance the whole design. It was conducted at College Station, Halfway, Chillicothe, and Corpus Christi, TX. In the first year each trial was divided into 4 subsets, while during the second, the trial consisted of 8 subsets, each with 15 experimental units. Hybrids, generally had larger panicles and higher yields, were taller, reached anthesis earlier, showed superior harvest indices, and lodged more than the parents. Combining ability and GCA:SCA mean square ratios showed that general combining ability variances were significant for all the variables studied. It showed also that additive variance was more important in controlling the genetic expression for the traits measured. The most superior parental lines for grain yield, across environments were ATx631, ATx623, A2Tx632, ATx378, RTx430, R8505, VG146 and Dorado. Grain was saved from the field trials to be used in evaluation of some grain and malt characteristics. Sorghum beer is an important component of Africa culture and is used as a food or drink in many countries. The objectives of the laboratory activities were: to establish a method to evaluate sorghum malt, to evaluate genotypes from the Texas A&M University sorghum breeding program for malting quality, and to understand the genetic parameters involved in the transmission of those traits. Results from the 1988 and 1989 trials showed that ATx378 and IS9530 produced malts with highest diastatic capacity. Their hybrids, in general were superior to the others. Cultivars with red pericarp grains, and those having white endosperm, in contrast with yellow endosperm, had higher diastatic activity, lower malt and dry matter loss, and higher germination.
De França, José Geraldo Eugênio (1990). Studies on genetic parameters of agronomic, grain structure, and malting characteristics of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -1174759.