A preliminary analysis of panicle structure in Sorghum-the great millet

Abstract

The importance of studying the ultimate components of the panicle when engaging on the problem of yield is emphasised. The different types of panicles in sorghum are shown to arise from different possible combinations of the factors, length of rachis, the mode of variation of the primary panicle branches, the extent of ramification of panicle branching, the angle which the whorls make with the rachis, the secondary branch zone of the primary branch, and the density of clustering of fertile spikelets. Relationships are described between length of rachis and 4 types of panicle; length of rachis and maximum length of primary branch; number of primary branches and length of rachis; length of primary branch and secondary branch; total number of fertile spikelets and weight per grain; total number of fertile spikelets and the sum of the lengths of all the primary branches. The solution to the problem of yield must be based on the weight and size of an individual grain and the components which determine the number of fertile spikelets.