Inheritance of acid-soil tolerance in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) grown on an Ultisol

Authors

C. I. Flores, Mississippi State University
L. M. Gourley, Mississippi State University
Jeffrey F. Pedersen, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
R. B. Clark, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

1991

Citation

R. J. Wright et al. (Eds.), Plant-soil interactions at low pH, 1081-1093.

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

Inheritance of acid-soil tolerance (generally considered AI-toxicity tolerance) i.n sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is not clear. Forty F₁ sorghum hybrids and their 14 parents were grown two seasons in the field at relatively high (67 and 71%) and low (43 and 42%) Al saturations on an acid Ultisol in Colombia, South America to evaluate the effects of acid soil on agronomic component traits and to better understand inheritance of acid-soil tolerance of sorghum. For plants grown at the high Al saturation levels, hybrids from acid-soil tolerant [AS-T] x acid soil-sensitive [AS-S] crosses were as tolerant as hybrids from AS-T x AS-T crosses which were as tolerant as their AS-T parents. Hybrids from AS-S x AS-S crosses were all sensitive to the acid-soil stress conditions. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant for acid-soil tolerance, and GCA effects were more important than SCA effects. Significant GCA and SCA effects were detected for grain yield and number of roots at the low Al saturation level. Additive genetic effects in these genotypes were important for acid-soil tolerance rating, grain yield, and number of roots at the high Al saturation level.