Combining Ability of Biomass Sorghum Lines for Agroindustrial Characters and Multitrait Selection of Photosensitive Hybrids for Energy Cogeneration

Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] biomass hybrids with high productivity and enhanced levels of lignin are seen as a promising alternative of feedstock for direct burning in ovens designed for cogeneration of electricity. The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic combing capacity of biomass sorghum lines and conduct multivariable selection of photosensitive biomass sorghum hybrids for use in cogeneration. Thirty‐six photosensitive hybrids, the control BRS716, and 12 parental lines were evaluated in a seven‐by‐seven triple lattice design at two locations, and 12 characters were evaluated. There was superiority of additive effects on the genetic control of all the characteristics studied in both environments, less for female lines in the diallelic analysis of F1 hybrids. The inclusion of parents in the estimates of combining capacities indicated predominance of dominance effects involved in the genetic control of the traits analyzed. The results demonstrate the action of epistasis of the dwarf genes present in the female lines for the biomass parameter and the false interpretation when these lines are included in the diallelic analysis. With the use of the index based on factor analysis and genotype–ideotype distance (FAI‐BLUP index), four factors were established, which separated the characteristics of production and quality, as well as the two environments, resulting from the high hybrid × environment interaction. With the index, five hybrids with higher potential for burning (H5‐5, H2‐1, H1‐1, H1‐5, and H5‐1) were selected. However, no hybrids obtained gains for the characteristics of production and quality, simultaneously, which indicates the need for genetic improvement of the parents used in the program.

Combining ability of biomass sorghum in different crop years and sites for bioenergy generation

“…Similar result was found by Oliveira et al., 2019, who studied 36 photosensitive hybrids of biomass sorghum, the control BRS716, and 12 parental lines. They concluded that hybrids can then be evaluated in the field in different locations for agronomic and industrial traits, and A‐lines with greater GCA and SCA for the characters of interest can be selected to compose the bank of male‐sterile A‐lines in the sorghum‐breeding program of Embrapa Milho e Sorgo.…”

“…The improvement of biomass sorghum should be done individually in each group of lines (restorative ‐ R or male‐sterile ‐ A). The development of new improved male sterile lines is a lengthy process, consequently a fast track strategy is desirable (Oliveira et al., 2019). Therefore, identifying parents from each group (A and R ‐ lines) who donate alleles that have desirable effects at both sites is a promising strategy for the development of future hybrids of biomass sorghum for bioenergy generation.…”

Computational intelligence for studies on genetic diversity between genotypes of biomass sorghum

“…In the four experiments, there were effects of genotypes (hybrids, parents, and controls) for most traits, in both crop years, except for dry biomass in 2017/2018, showing wide variability between genotypes ( Table 2). Estimates of coefficients of variation (CV%) indicated an adequate experimental precision, according to other studies on biomass sorghum (Silva et al, 2018;Oliveira et al, 2019). There was a significant effect for genotype x environment interaction (G x E) for all traits, in both crop years, indicating different behavior of genotypes at different environments.…”

“…In contrast, R lines and hybrids were closer to each other, showing that R lines contribute to a higher concentration of favorable and dominant alleles for the formation of hybrids. In addition, the R lines carry the bmr-6 allele, tall, with excellent biomass yield, and sensitive to photoperiod (Oliveira et al, 2019).…”

Multitrait selection of pumpkin genotypes aimed at reducing the growth habit and improving seed production

“…The FAI‐BLUP selection index was efficient in the selection of superior pumpkin genotypes based on the evaluated characteristics. Although only recently proposed, this index has already been used efficiently in the evaluation and selection of sorghum hybrids for increased biomass (Oliveira et al., 2019; Silva et al., 2018), selection of soybeans [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] for biodiesel production (Woyann et al., 2019), and selection of superior bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) progenies (Rocha et al., 2019).…”