The inheritance of drought resistance characteristics in grain sorghum seedlings

Abstract

A factorial crossing method was used to study the inheritance of and the relationship between characteristics which are related to drought resistance in grain sorghum seedlings. The potential for improving drought resistance in grain sorghum seedlings was verified by the high estimates of heritability and the predominance of additive genetic variation. Higher growth rate in grain sorghum seedlings not only provided a potential for increased root volume and hence the maintenance of water uptake, but also resulted in a relative decrease in moisture loss per leaf area.