Recurrent Selection in Sorghum Populations

Abstract

TRADITIONAL methods of breeding improved varieties of mainly self pollinating crops have been very successful. Success has been greatest when characters controlled by relatively few genetic factors have been the main objects of selection. Height and length of maturity differences, some pest and disease resistances, and some leaf and panicle characters tend to belong to this category. Even in an out-pollinating crop such as maize, initial yield increase may be due largely to major characters, as in Harrison's Kenya hybrid H-611 (Eberhart et ai., 1967), where a short cob with many rows crossed to a long cob with few rows gave the plant breeder's dream of a long cob with many rows. Such major characters are seldom under simple major gene control.