Agronomic Performance of Local and Improved Sorghum bicolor L. Moench Varieties in Sudanian Area, North of Côte d'Ivoire

Background: Sorghum is an important crop in Côte d’Ivoire but its cultivation was threatened by biotic stress and water deficit.

Aims: To evaluate the agronomic performance of improved introduced and local sorghum varieties in the Korhogo agroclimatic zone in northern Côte d'Ivoire.

Materials and methods: The experimental design was a completely randomized block design with three repetitions and a variety factor with 7 levels. The trial was carried out on in the university research station of Korhogo between July 2023 and December 2023.

The characterization of varieties was based on a set of parameters relating to phenology, plant morphology and yield and its components. The morpho-phenological diversity was structured using multivariate analyses. Firstly, a principal component analysis (PCA) was used to highlight the traits that best discriminate between the different accessions and their association. Next, a hierarchical ascending classification (HAC) was carried out to elucidate the phyletic relationships between the accessions analyzed.

Results: The results show that there is agro-morphological diversity within the varieties studied. Hierarchical ascending classification (HAC) revealed 3 groups of varieties. Multiple analysis of variance showed a significant difference between these three groups. Group 1 was made up of the introduced improved varieties (V1, V2 and V3), which had the best yields (1.56 t/ha) with a shorter average cycle length of 105.66 days. Group 2 was made up of three local varieties (V5, V7 and V4), which were characterized by a long average cycle length (134.44 days), large plant size (266.20 cm) and low yield (0.34 t/ha). Group 3 consisted of a single local sorghum variety (V6) with a long average cycle length (144.66 days), a high number of leaves (13.83 leaves) and zero yield.

Conclusion: The improved varieties were better adapted to the agro-climatic conditions of the study area and could be used to increase sorghum production there. Varieties from the other groups could be used as elite parents in a breeding and development program to create varieties that meet producers' needs.