Genetic divergence in northern Benin sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) landraces as revealed by agromorphological traits and selection of candidate genotypes.
Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important staple food crop in northern Benin. In order to assess its diversity in Benin, 142 accessions of landraces collected from Northern Benin were grown in Central Benin and characterised using 10 qualitative and 14 quantitative agromorphological traits. High variability among both qualitative and quantitative traits was observed. Grain yield (0.72-10.57 tons/ha), panicle weight (15-215.95 g), days to 50% flowering (57-200 days), and plant height (153.27-636.5 cm) were among traits that exhibited broader variability. Correlations between quantitative traits were determined. Grain yield for instance exhibited highly positive association with panicle weight (r = 0.901, P = 0.000) and 100 seed weight (r = 0.247, P = 0.000). UPGMA cluster analysis classified the 142 accessions into 89 morphotypes. Based on multivariate analysis, twenty promising sorghum genotypes were selected. Among them, AT41, AT14, and AT29 showed early maturity (57 to 66 days to 50% flowering), high grain yields (4.85 to 7.85 tons/ha), and shorter plant height (153.27 to 180.37 cm). The results obtained will help enhancing sorghum production and diversity and developing new varieties that will be better adapted to the current soil and climate conditions in Benin.
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Genetic Resources and Plant and Animal Breeding (BIORAVE), Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Dassa, Polytechnic University of Abomey, 01 BP 14 Dassa-Zoumè, Benin.
Innocent
I
Dossou-Aminon
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Genetic Resources and Plant and Animal Breeding (BIORAVE), Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Dassa, Polytechnic University of Abomey, 01 BP 14 Dassa-Zoumè, Benin.
Laura Yêyinou
LY
Loko
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Genetic Resources and Plant and Animal Breeding (BIORAVE), Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Dassa, Polytechnic University of Abomey, 01 BP 14 Dassa-Zoumè, Benin.
Arlette
A
Adjatin
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Genetic Resources and Plant and Animal Breeding (BIORAVE), Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Dassa, Polytechnic University of Abomey, 01 BP 14 Dassa-Zoumè, Benin.
Eben-Ezer B K
EE
Ewédjè
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Genetic Resources and Plant and Animal Breeding (BIORAVE), Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Dassa, Polytechnic University of Abomey, 01 BP 14 Dassa-Zoumè, Benin.
Alexandre
A
Dansi
Directorate of Sorghum Research, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad 500030, India.
Sujay
S
Rakshit
Regional Study Centre for Improving Adaptation to Drought (CERAAS), BP 3320, Road of Khombole, Thiès, Senegal.
Ndiaga
N
Cissé
Directorate of Sorghum Research, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad 500030, India.
Jagannath Vishnu
JV
Patil
Laboratory of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques (FAST), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.
Clément
C
Agbangla
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FAST), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.
Ambaliou
A
Sanni
National Herbarium, Department of Botany and Plant Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FAST), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.
Akpovi
A
Akoègninou
Laboratory of Botany, Faculty of Sciences (FS), University of Lomé, P.O. Box 1515, Lomé, Togo.
Koffi
K
Akpagana
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001541:Benin; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D045868:Sorghum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013045:Species Specificity