Abstract

Information on genetic progress achieved over time from a breeding program is absolutely essential to develop effective and efficient breeding strategies. Thirty-seven improved lowland sorghum varieties released between 1976 and 2016 and promising advanced lines were evaluated to estimate the genetic progresses made in 40 years of sorghum breeding in Ethiopia. The study was conducted at 2 environments during 2018 cropping seasons in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Records taken on grain yield and yield attributes were subjected to statistical analysis. Combined analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes and the test environments for most of the traits, the G×E interaction effects being significant for grain yield. Regression analysis revealed an increase in estimated average annual rate in grain yield potential of 12.2 kg ha^-1 year^-1 with annual relative genetic change of 0.60% year^-1 over the last 40 years of sorghum improvement. Increasing trends along variety release year were also evident for biomass yield, grain yield production per day, biomass production rate and seed growth rate. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that seed growth rate was the most important character, which greatly contributed to the improvement in grain yield. Grain yield was positively correlated with biomass yield, biomass production rate, grain yield production per day, seed growth rate, and thousand seed weight. It is, therefore, strategically advisable that breeding efforts in the future should give due emphasize traits such as seed growth rate.

Key words:  Sorghum, genetic improvement, grain yield.