Selection Criteria for Combining High Yield and Striga Resistance in Sorghum

Ten genetically diverse but homozygote sorghum cultivars that are adapted to northern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria were grown in Striga sick-field for two years. Agronomic traits of maturity, Striga resistance traits and actual grain yield were quantitatively heritable. Correlation coefficients computed among these traits revealed that grain yield was positively correlated with plant vigour, stem girth, root weight, shoot weight and plant height, while Striga count was negative and highly significantly correlated (r= -0.86) with grain yield. Correlated response indicated that selecting for bigger stem girth, high root, good plant vigour and shoot weight, and taller plants under Striga infestation will lead to a corresponding increase of 1.1%, 1.4%, 2.7%, 7.8% and 14.9% respectively on grain yield, while a 52.4% reduction in grain yield is observed by selecting Striga encouraging traits.