Studies in para-sorghum snowden - the group with bearded nodes

Abstract

This paper presents a study of the Para-sorghums consisting of four species, namely S. purpureo- sericeum, S. dimidiatum, S. versicolor and S. nitidum. The group is characterised by the hairiness of the plants, bearded nodes, very long awns (upto 40 mm.) and five pairs of chromosomes.S. purpureosericeum and S. dimidiatum are very closely related to each other, but for the slightly reduced and half coriaceous glume of the latter. The difference is brought about by a single gene.S. versicolor andS. nitidum are more closely related to each other than to the other two. The sorghums of this group do not have much value as fodder in South-India, as they are unable to with-stand cuttings and succumb to the least disturbance to the root system.