AN AGRO-TECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPEAN BROOMCORN LANDRACES.

Comprehensive overview of the extent genetic diversity in South-East European landrace collection was estimated regard broadening of broomcorn (Sorghum bicolor [L]. Moench) germplasm variability. In a long-term field trials 28 accessions were analyzed to determine variability of agronomic (unthreshed panicle weight UTP, threshed panicle weight TRP, grain yield per panicle SWG and threshed panicle ratio RAN), morphological (plant height PHG, stalk height SHG, panicle length PLG, peduncle length PDL, flag leaf sheath length LSL and panicle exsertion PEX) and technological (fiber length FLG, fiber number per panicle NOP and fiber fineness FFI) traits. By all obtained results combining over univariate and multivariate analysis, the study showed significant variability over traits, so the examined landraces will be included in existing broomcorn germplasm. Accessories with valuable quantitative and qualitative characters can significantly contribute to improvement of new bred cultivars and broadening germplasm diversity. Three years field experiment showed significant positive correlations between PHG-SHG, PDL-PEX and UTP-SWG and significant negative correlations between PDL-FLG and SWG-RAN. The performance of examined landraces were generally within the ambit of broomcorn germplasm variability, but several accessions with the extreme trait profile for yield components and panicle quality will be useful as parents in the breeding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]