Lecture No: 7 & 8

SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor) 2n = 2x = 20

Sorghum is one of the most important food crops in a semi – arid tropics.
Origin: S.E. Africa
Distribution:
A number of land races, wild forms found in S.E. Africa, says the origin Ethiopia
in Africa from there it spread to other parts of world. It is grown in Africa, south and
central India, China, Argentina, Australia and south and central plains of US.
Progenitor of sorghum
1. S.arundinaceum
2. S.verticilliflorum
3. S.sudanense
4. S.aethiopicum

Classification :
th
Right from 16 century there were number of classification for the genus S orghum. The
famous among them is Snowden’s classification (1936) later refined by Garber (1950) and by
Dogget (1970).

The latest classification was done by Harlan and De Wet (1972).

1.Bicolor (B): Grain elongate, glumes clasping the grain
which may be completely covered or ¼ exposed.
2.Guinea (G): Grains flattened dorso-ventrally.
3.Caudatum(C): grains asymmetrical, glumes 1/2 the length
of the grain.
4.Kaffir (K): Grains symmetrical (spherical), glumes clasping
in varying length.
5.Durra (D): Grains rounded obovate, wedge shaped at the base and
broadest slightly above the middle; glumes very wide.

According to them, the cultivated sorghum Sorghum bicolor is divided in to five basic
races based on the coverage of glume on the grain.
Classification on the basis of their economic uses:
Grain Sorghums(Caffrorum group): It have stalks that are dry and pithy and not
very juicy. Kafir, durra, milo, feterita and hegari are varieties of grain sorghums .
Sweet or forage sorghums (Saccharatum group): Have juicy, sweet stalks that are
used as forage and silage and to make sweet syrup.
 Broomscorns (Technicum group): Have small seeds. The rachis is very much
shortened but the umbelliform inflorescences are long with tough and fibrous branches that are
used for making brooms and whisk brooms.
Grass Sorghums is grown wholly for pasture, green chop, silage, or hay.

Breeding objectives

1. High grain yield

2. High forage yield
3. Breeding for non-lodging sorghums.

4. Dual purpose genotypes with high grain and fodder biomass potential per unit time.
5. Early maturity
6. Resistance to biotic stresses (diseases like grain mold, downy mildew, rusts, leaf
blight, leaf spots etc.
7. Resistance / Tolerance to insects like shoot fly, stem borer, gall midge etc.
8. Resistance to abiotic stresses like salinity, drought with resistance to low HCN content
9. Breeding for quality characters like bread making, redgrain for biscuit making protein
and lysine content.
10. Breeding for spe cial traits like sweet sorghums and striga resistance.
11. To isolate alternate sources of cytoplasmic genic male sterile lines
B reeding Procedure:
Sorghum is often cross pollinated crop. So to maintain varietal purity isolation distance
of 400 meters is necessary. Compared to other often pollinated crop like red gram,
maintenance of inbreds is easy in sorghum. By putting brown paper and selfing the genetic
purity can be maintained.
1. Introduction : Varieties of milo and kafir sorghum introduced from USA are used in
conversion programme to convert the local long duration photo sensitive varieties to short
duration, non-photo sensitive lines.
2. Selection : Old varieties like Co1, Co2, Co4 are all selection made from local land races.
3.Hybridization and selection
a) Inter varietal
(IS 4283 x Co 21) x CS 3541, Three way cross derivative Co
25 (MS 8271 x IS 3691) - Single cross derivative Co26
b) Inter specific
Co 27 Sorghum. (Co11 x S.halapense)
4. Heterosis breeding :
Use of CMS lines.
CSH 5 2077 A x CS 3541
 5. Mutation breeding :
X ray mutant from CSV 5 (148)
Co 19 is a natural mutant from Co 2
6. Back cross method :
By following backcross method of breeding sorghum conversion programme was initiated. The
long duration photosensitive germplasm was converted in to photo insensitive short duration sorghums.
This was done at USA Similar programme was done at ICRISAT also.

7. Population improvement :
With the use of cytoplasmic genetic male sterility as well as genic male sterility we can
go for population improvement. The local land races can be used as pollinators and by half sib
family selection, we can isolate lines. We can follow recurrent selection idea to develop
superior inbreds.
8. Use of Apomictic lines :
Some apomictic lines have been identified which can be utilised in breeding
programme and by vegetative propagation we can fix up heterosis. E.g. R473 from Hydrabad.
B reeder centers:
International sorghum improvement work is carried out by ICRISAT (International
Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics)
In India at Directorate of Sorghum Research (DSR),
Hyderabad Practical Achievements:
Hybrids are developed by using cytoplasmic genetic smale sterility combined kafir
60 Varieties: CSV1 CSV-2, CSV -4, M35-1, CSV-13
Hybrids: CSH-1, CSH-2, 3 etc for kharif and CSH 7, 12, 13 for Rabi

Lecture No: 8
SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus) (2n=34)

It is an important oil seed crop. Oil content ranges from 46-52 per cent and is of high
quality having non-cholesteral properties.
Origin: America
Distribution: USSR, Romania, Canada, USA In India this crop is introduced in 1969 from
USSR. In India it is cultivated in Tamil Nadu Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh,
Punjab and Haryana
Progenitors: Helianthus petiolaris
H . gigants
Wild species: H hirsutus
H rigidus
 The genus Helianthus comprises of 67 species. Two species H .annuus and H.
tuberosus are cultivated as food plants genus has basic chromosome number of 17 and diploid,
tetraploid and hexaploid species are found.
Cultivars of sunflower:

a) Giant types: 6 - 14 feet tall. Late maturing, Large heads 12 - 30” in diameter, seeds
large, white or grey or with black stripes. Oil content is very low. E.g. Mamoth
Russian.
b) Semi dwarf varieties :
Medium tall - 4 ½ to 6 feet, Early maturing. Heads 7 - 9” in diameter. Seeds smaller,
black, grey or striped. High oil content 35%. E.g. Jupiter, Pole star.
c) Dwarf types
2 to 4½ feet tall. Early maturing. Head size 5½ - 6½ “ diameter. Small seeds, high oil
content 37%.
E.g. Sunrise, Morden, Co1, Co2
Breeding objectives
1. To develop short duration varieties suitable for dry land and irrigated conditions .
Dryland successful in black soils only. In red soil under rainfed it is not successful.
2. B reeding varieties with high oil content :
Ranges 38 to 48%. Complex character yield and oil content are negatively correlated.
To increase oil content the shell must be thin.
3. B reeding for self fertile lines.
Protoandry and self incompatability mechanism operates in sunflower. Hence hand
pollination is necessary. To avoid this self fertile lines can be evolved.
4. B reeding for disease resistance.
Maharastra hybrid susceptible to powdery mildew. Hence ban is there. Powdery
mildew, rust, charcoal rot, Alternaria . Wild species like H.hirsuta are moderately
resistance to Alternaria.
5. Resistant to pests
Heliothis , Grass hopper Jassids.

Breeding Methods :
1. Introduction : Morden from Canada.
2. Mass selection:
Ec 68414 from Russia. Co1 mass selection from Morden. Useful for characters which
are highly heritable. E.g. Plant height, disease resistance.
 3. Hybridization and
selection a) Intervarietal :
b) Interspecific :
Wild species of North American origin and best Soviet varieties were crossed and
number of varieties were evolved.

4. Mutation
Co3 (Mutant from Co2 thro’ gamma rays)
5. Head to row and remnant seed method
Developed by Pustovoit in Russia. By this method oil content is increased. In this
method the following are the steps:
a) From open pollinated type a large no (10,000 to 12,000) plants are selected based
on Head size.
b) The selected lines are analysed for oil content and high oil content lines are isolated
(1000 plants).
c) Part of the seed reserved and the part is sown in progeny rows along with check to
estimate yield.
d) Second season testing is also done. The best lines are identified.
a. The remnant seed of elite plants which give high yield were raised in
isolation and multiplied for crossing interse next season.
b. The multiplied lines also tested for oil content and high yielding high oil
content lines were raised in isolation and crossed interse.
6. Population improvement
By mass selection, recurrent selection and use of male sterile lines population can be
improved and utilised for breeding.
7. Heterosis breeding :
Development of inbred lines and crossing them to harness heterosis was first done as
early as 1920 in Russia. During 1970 cytoplasmic geneic male sterility was identified in
wild types and obsolete cultivars. Now this system is being extensively used for production
of hybrids.
First hybrid
BSH 1
APSH – 11
A number of CGMS lines were bred by Government as well as private seed growers and
are utilised now.
Male sterility can also be inducted by GA 100 ppm.
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Steps
1. Development of inbreds.
2. Evaluation of inbreds for combining ability.
3. Conversion of inbreds into CGMS lines and R lines.
4. Production of hybrids.
B reeding centre:
Directorate of oil seed Research (DOR) Hyderabad.
All India coordinated sunflower improvement project (Bangalore)

Cotton (Gossypium sps) (2n = 4x = 52)

Cotton is grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of more than 80 countries of the
world.
Origin: Central Africa
Distribution: China, USA, India, Pakistan, Egypt. In India Rajasthan, Maharashtra, M.P.
Gujarat, A.P. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Progenitors: Gossypium africanum
G. raimondii
Gossypium africanum – reached India by traders and travelers and differentiated into two
species G. herbaceum and G. arboreum
Cultivated Species:
I. Asiatic cottons or old world cotton (Diploid cotton – 2n = 26)
1. G. arboreum –
2. G. herbaceum –
II. New world cotton (Tetraploid cottons – 2n = 52)
3. G. hirsutum – American / upland cotton
4. G. barbadense – Egyption / sea island cotton
G. hirsutum is predominant species whic h contributes about 90% to the current world
production. Besides cultivated species there are about 46 wild species India is the only country
where all the 4 cultivated species are grown for commercial cultivation.
B reeding objectives:
1. High yield (more bolls, bigger bolls and high lint percentage)
Lint % = weight of fibre
weight of cotton
Lint index = 100 seed weight X lint %
 100 – lint %
2. Early maturity
3. Superior fibre quality
4. Better plant type
5. Resistance to diseases like fusarium wilt, rots etc.,
6. Resistance to insects like boll worms, Jassids, Thrips etc.,
7. Resistance to abiotic stresses.
B reeding Procedures:
1. Introduction : Cambodia cotton in South India, MCU- 1
 70

2. Selection : K1 cotton reselection from SRT -1

3. Hybridization and selection
a) Inter varietal : MCU 5 - Multiple cross derivative
MCU 6 - Multiple cross derivative
MCU 9 - (MCU 5 x MCU 8)
b) Inter specific hybridization
African linted species (G. africanum) reached America through pacific ocean and after
crossing with American lintless wild diploid species G. rarimondii gave birth to tetraploid
cotton. The chromosome doubling took place in nature resulting in the development of fertile
amphidiploids
G. herbaceum G. rarimondii
Var africanum linted lintless
Old world cotton American cotton
Diploid (2n=2x=26) Diploid (2n=2x=26)

AA DD

F1 hybrid
Diploid 2n=2x=26
AD
Sterile
Doubling of chromosomes

G. hirsutum
New world cotton Amphidiploid
2n = 4x = 52
AA DD

4. Heterosis breeding
India is the first country in the world to release first commercial hybrid in cotton.
Both intraspecific and interspecific hybrids are evolved in cotton.
a) Intraspecific : G.hirsutum x G.hirsutum Shankar (H4) cotton of Surat
(Gujarat 67 x American nectariless)
b) Interspecific hybrids :Varalakshmi (Laxmi x SB 289E)
(hirsutum) x (barbadense)
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4. Mutation breeding
MCU 7- Xray irradiated mutant of L 1143
MCU 10 - Gamma irradiated mutant of MCU 4
Indore – 2
MCU – 5
Rasmi
5. Population improvement followed in USA
a) Recurrent selection : Pima S Pima S of G.barbadense
1 4

b) Synthetic variety : Deltapine 15 developed at konyvllwer USA.

c) Composite : Pima 17 of G.barbadense.
6. Biotechnology has helped in developing transgenic cotton with resistance to Helicoverpa.
The resistant gene has been transferred from bacteria Bascillus thuringiensis into cotton plant
by Monsanto Seed Company in U.S.A.
B reeding centers:
Ø International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
Ø Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR) Nagpur
Ø All India Coordinated Cotton Improvement Project (AICCIP) Coimbatore
Varieties: MCU – 5, MCU – 10, K9, K10
Hybrids:
Interspecific hybrids - Varalakshmi, HB 224
Intraspecific hybrids - Dhanalaxmi, H4, H6
Desi cotton - DH 7, DH9
Male sterility based hybrids - Suguna, PKVHY3, ARDH- 7