Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) has been grown in diverse climate variations, in warm and dry regions, or in regions with short drought periods. Thus, there is a need to select sorghum genotypes adapted to production systems under drought or rainy irregularities. This study evaluated the direct and indirect correlations among morphophysiological and productive characters of forage sorghum genotypes with Pearson’s correlation and path analysis. The experiment was designed under complete randomized blocks, with 25 treatments (genotypes) and three replicates. Analyzes of phenotypic correlation and the path analysis were done for plant height, panicle length, stem diameter, plant stand, green matter and dry matter yields, stem weight, plant weight, panicle weight, dry matter content, and forage mass. Plant weight presented the most significant direct effect on the forage mass (target variable), contributing to the increase in forage sorghum production. Therefore, heavier plants are more suitable to select forage sorghum genotypes indirectly, aiming to increase forage mass.

O sorgo (Sorghum L. moench) é uma poaceae com características morfofisiológicas que conferem adaptaçãoàs condições de deficiência hídrica, o que a torna uma alternativa promissora para o Alto Sertão Sergipano.Uma maneira de selecionar materiais promissores de sorgo no melhoramento é analisar as correlações entreas variáveis morfológicas. Assim, objetivou-se utilizar a análise de trilha para seleção indireta de sorgoforrageiro com base nas características morfológicas na região do Alto Sertão Sergipano. O experimento foiconduzido na fazenda experimental da Embrapa Semiárido, em Nossa Senhora da Glória (SE), comdelineamento experimental em blocos casualizados e três repetições. Foram utilizados 16 tratamentos, sendo quatro testemunhas comerciais e 12 híbridos experimentais, total de 48 parcelas. As variáveis estudadas foram altura de planta, diâmetro do colmo, comprimento da panícula, estande final, peso do colmo, peso da folha, peso da panícula, peso da planta, matéria fresca, matéria seca, porcentagem de matéria seca e massa de forragem. Houve variabilidade entre os genótipos, e correlações fenotípicas fortes e positivas do peso da planta com peso do colmo, diâmetro do colmo e massa de forragem de 0,99, 0,92 e 0,78, respectivamente. A análise de trilha mostrou que o peso da planta apresentou maior correlação positiva (0,798) e alto efeito direto sobre a massa de forragem (0,949). Assim, recomenda-se a seleção indireta de sorgo com base na característica fenotípica maior massa de forragem, por meio do maior peso de planta.

Maize is importance in the semiarid region due to its forage potential. However, the large number of hybrids on the market hampers the selection of the hybrid by the producer. Given the above, the objective of this paper is to identify genotypes with productive potential for forage and grain production according to the characteristics of the semiarid region of Brazil. Twenty genotypes with different genotypic classes were evaluated in two years (2018 and 2019) in the municipality of Gracho Cardoso, state of Sergipe. The experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with two replicates. Genotype characteristics, grain yield, and forage mass were evaluated and the results were estimated using mixed models and GT Biplots. The genotypic classes consisting of topcrosses and intervarietal hybrids showed high average grain yield and the three classes produced equally on average for forage mass. It was observed that the HI, HTC, and V genotypic classes were the most responsive for grain yield, forage mass, and dry matter content, respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that the genetically broad-based hybrids (HTC and HI) were the most promising for the semiarid of region of Sergipe, while interspecific hybrids were the most productive and stable.