DOI: 10.5061/dryad.69p8cz984
title: Adaptation and plasticity of yield in hybrid and inbred sorghum

description: Local adaptation and genotype by environment (G×E) interactions affect the
 expression of phenotypes in crop species. An investigation on the
 interplay between adaptation and G×E on sorghum heterosis phenotypes is
 lacking. To address this question, a set of 112 diverse grain sorghum
 hybrids and their 22 inbred parents of local and exotic origins,
 representing the primary female and male heterotic groups, were tested in
 five contrasting sorghum growing environments across two years in
 Queensland, Australia. Plant height, days to flowering, seed yield, grain
 weight, and grain number were measured and used in the estimation of
 heterosis. Mid parent heterosis for yield ranged from -25 to 217% and was
 highly influenced by grain number. In contrast to observations in maize
 the magnitude of heterosis for yield was not associated with site mean.
 Striking differences were observed in heterosis in hybrids from locally
 developed inbred parents compared with hybrids that were developed from
 exotic inbred parents developed in other countries. Heterosis in the
 latter combination was higher on average across all the test environments
 for the majority of traits. We hypothesise maladaptive phenotypic
 plasticity in the exotic parents contributed to the observed differences
 in heterosis estimates. These data confirm that heterosis estimates in
 sorghum must be obtained and interpreted in relevant genetic and
 environmental contexts. Breeders in developing countries with low sorghum
 hybrid seed uptake will find these insights useful when selecting hybrids
 for broader adaptation, improving efficiency of their breeding programs.
description: These datasets were collected across 5 experimental sites in the
 Queensland soerghum growing belt in Australia (2001 - 2003). Raw data is
 provided. Measured Variables 
 
 TRAIT NAME
 HGT Height from base
 to panicle tip FLAG
 HGT height from base to flag leaf
 DFL Days to 50%
 flowering LDG
 Lodging score - stalk lodging 
 Plot yield Kg/Ha Yield in Kilograms per
 Hectare 1000 seed
 weight Weight of 1000 grains.
description: # Adaptation and Plasticity of Yield in Hybrid and Inbred Sorghum
 Data on Sorghum hybrids
 and their inbred parents across 5 environments. Six traits have been
 measured in ~ 100 hybrids and inbred parents. ## Description of the data
 and file structure Data is provided in raw format and may be used in
 studies on heterosis in sorghum. The data is provided in Excel format with
 multiple sheets, each location data in its own sheet. The name of the
 location is on the respective sheet. Another sheet named NOTES contains a
 description of the variables measured. All the data is provided in raw
 format. The experimental design is a row column design with two
 replication in all the locations. Check genotypes are designated as check/
 commercial check (1,2 or 3) Site is the location where the
 trial/experiment was planted. Range: Is a design feature of the experiment
 synonymous to blocks Rows : Are the units within ranges and represent the
 plots in the experiment. Each plot had four rows and data was collected
 from the two middle rows ObsNo: Observation Number, is a sequential
 number, not part of trial design but just used to eyeball the data during
 curation. Rep: Replication. Two replications were in each of the trial, it
 forms a feature of the experimental design. Genotype: These are names of
 the lines/ seed types used in the experiment Hybrid: this was used to
 designate genotypes as either pure lines or combinations of two lines.
 Hybrid, when it is a combination/cross of two lines and Line, when it is a
 pure line. Females: Shows if a genotypes was used as a female parent in
 the cross Males: Shows if the genotype was used as a male parent. ##
 Sharing/Access information *
 ## Code/Software Data
 analysis was implemented in the R environment, ASRemlR for models, GGplot2
 for visualisation