Effect of sterile cytoplasms on content of absolutely dry matter in the grain sorghum hybrids

Abstract

Analysis of absolutely dry matter (ADM) accumulation is important indicator of productivity of crop plants. For three seasons, we investigated the effect of sterile cytoplasms on content of ADM in the F1 hybrids of grain sorghum obtained on the basis of two series of alloplasmic iso-nuclear CMS-lines: (1) with A3, A4, and 9E cytoplasms and (2) with 9E and M35-1A cytoplasms. For the first time, the effect of the type of sterile cytoplasm on content of ADM in the F1 sorghum hybrids was shown. In each season, A3 cytoplasm reduced ADM in the F1 hybrids at the “tillering – heading” stage, whereas 9E cytoplasm increased ADM at the “heading – complete maturity” stage. The most significant differences were observed under drought conditions. These data indicate the genetic influence of cytoplasm on assimilation capacity of sorghum hybrids and tolerance to drought stress.