Resumen

HERNANDEZ ESPINAL, Luis Alberto  y  MORENO GALLEGOS, Tomás. Analysis of the F₁ and F₂ generations of experimental and commercial hybrid sorghum. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2014, vol.5, n.1, pp.49-59. ISSN 2007-0934.

The price of the F₁ hybrid seed of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] is expensive, rainfed producers mainly sow seed advanced or F₂ generation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield of grain sorghum F₂ generation, compared to F₁. We estimated the cost-benefit ratio (B/C) of 20 experimental and 14 commercial hybrid sorghum under irrigated conditions in the CEVACU, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. From 20102012, two experiments were established with a complete block design with three replications. The average grain yield was reduced 50.79% in F₂ with respect to F₁. The highest grain yield in F₁ hybrid obtained in experimental SHS- 23 x 43 (7 109 kg ha^-1) and commercial hybrid G STAR 7304 (6813 kg ha^-1). The B/C average F₂ generation was lower with 45.61% with respect to F₁. The results indicate that the use of advanced generation seed or F₂ is not recommended because on average over 90% sorghum hybrids the B/C is negative, being uneconomical for the production of grain.

Palabras llave : Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.; benefit/cost; yield.