M 35-1 derived sorghum varieties for cultivation during the postrainy season

The variety M 35-1 dominates the postrainy seasonsorghum areas in India. Several varieties were developedat ICRISAT incorporating genes from M 35-1.Participatory plant breeding was carried out to select forfarmer-preferred traits. The resultant 23 varieties weretested in comparison to M 35-1 in randomized completeblock design for two consecutive years. Two varieties, SP18008 and SP 18034, were promising and significantlyoutyielded the check M 35-1. SP 18008 and SP 18034had a plant height of 2.7 m and 2.0 m, grain yield of 620and 610 g m-2, flowering time 76 to 82 days and 100-grainweight of 3.9 to 4.0 g.