Inheritance of Brown Pericarp and Subcoat in Sorghum 1

Five grain sorghums [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] were used in this study to determine the inheritance of the brown pericarp and subcoat: (i). 7078,Tx 7078 strain of ‘Combine 7078’ (red pericarp without a subcoat); (ii). CK‐60,Tx 3197 strain of ‘Combine Kafir 60’ (white pericarp with reddish brown speckles without a subcoat); (iii). Hegari, TS 7313 strain of ‘Early Hegari’ (chalky white pericarp with a subcoat); (iv). Schrock, CI 616 strain of ‘Schrock’ (brown pericarp with a subcoat); and (v). Shallu, AK 3001R strain of ‘Double Dwarf Early Shallu’ (pearly white pericarp without a subcoat). All possible crosses (with reciprocals) were made among the five sorghums. The pericarp colors and the presence or absence of a subcoat were noted for the crosses and reciprocals in the F 1 generation. The presence or absence of the subcoat was determined by microscopic examinations of cross sections of the grain from the parents and from their crosses and reciprocals, 20 F 1 's. The F 2 segregating populations were classified for pericarp colors and for the presence or absence of a subcoat. The observed data were tested by chi‐square for goodness‐of‐fit to the theoretical ratios. The F 3 populations were used to confirm the F 2 segregating ratios. It was confirmed that two complementary factors B 1 and B 2 are responsible for the presence of a subcoat. Brown pericarp resulted when factors B 1 , B 2 , and S were dominant and these brown grains possessed a subcoat. Additional factors R and Y were responsible for red pericarp when any of the factors B 1 , B 2 , or S were homozygous recessive. Brown grain containing the dominant R and Y factors had a deeper brown color. When either of the subcoat factors were homozygous recessive and homozygous recessive R or Y factor, regardless of the S factor, a white pericarp resulted. Pericarp and subcoat genotypes for the five sorghums were determined.