www.tjprc.org editor@tjprc.org International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research (IJASR) ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087 Vol. 4, Issue 3, Jun 2014, 91-100 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd. GENETIC VARIABILITY FOR GRAIN IRON, ZINC, OTHER NUTRIENTS AND YIELD RELATED TRAITS IN SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) CH. SUSMITA 1 & B. SELVI 2 Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India ABSTRACT Micronutrient malnutrition resulting from dietary deficiency of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and other essential nutrients, is a wide spread food-related health problem globally. Diversified food and cultivars with elevated levels of nutrients provide most cost effective solution for this alarming problem. The success of an effective breeding programme and the genetic improvement of any crop species depend upon the nature of genetic variability present in the population. Knowledge on relative magnitude of variability present in the crop species is most important as it forms basis of selection and thus enables execution of any crop improvement programme. Hence, the present investigation was undertaken to determine the magnitude of genetic variability for grain iron and zinc content and other quantitative and nutritional traits in diverse range of breeding materials. A wide range of variability existed for all the traits studied indicating the presence of significant variation among the genotypes. High PCV and GCV estimates revealed the extent of variability and high heritability coupled with high genetic advance recorded for all the traits except total magnesium indicated that these traits respond to selection. The genetic variability found among the 58 sorghum genotypes for six nutritional traits can be exploited in the breeding programme for producing nutrient dense genotypes. KEYWORDS: Malnutrition, Variability, Nutrients, Selection, Heritability, Genetic Advance INTRODUCTION Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is the fifth most important cereal crop globally and is the dietary staple of more than 500 million people in over 90 countries (Reddy et al., 2010). It is the third most important food crop in India after rice and wheat and second cheapest source of energy and micronutrients, after pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) with a vast majority of the population in Africa and Central India depending for their dietary energy and micronutrient requirements (Rao et al., 2006). Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) were the two micronutrients recognized by WHO of the United Nations as limiting as they are the chief factors responsible for malnutrition among people living in arid and semi-arid regions. These two micronutrients are considered to be very essential components of human diet since they have several functions in the human body and in turn deficiency of these micronutrients lead to severe consequences with great impact on health and also on economic development of countries (Hunt et al., 2005). Sorghum owing to its importance as a drought tolerant crop also supplies important minerals, vitamins, protein and micronutrients essential for optimal health, growth and development of humans (Chan et al., 2007). Hence, concentration should be laid on methods involved in determination of nutritional composition in sorghum which is of paramount significance for eradicating malnutrition caused by lack of mineral nutrients. Breeding for higher concentration of minerals in food crops is an alternative method for improving the health of humans suffering from the consequences of mineral deficiency (Feilet al., 2005).