This research concerns the genetic improvement of local variety of sorghum named (Kairah) using pure line selection method. It was carried out at Al-Hodaidah province in two stages: 1) on farmers’ fields during 2011 (autumn) to define morphological, classifiable and productivity characteristics of the basic population of the local variety (Kairah); and 2) in 2012 (autumn) in Al-Kaden Research Farm in Surdod to evaluate progeny of selected plants. Basic population plants revealed intense variations in disperse averages for panicle weight, grain panicle weight and grain yield per hectare. The genetic variations for plant height, number of leaves, panicle length and 1000 grains weight was weak (C.V.≤10%). The single selection gave significant increases in the grand mean for progeny characteristics after one cycle of selection compared to the basic population, especially for plant height, number of leaves per plant, panicle weight, grain panicle weight and grain yield which varied between 7.3–21.6%. Choosing panicle weight as a principal character for selection achieved the highest response rates in the first cycle of selection amounted to 12.8%, followed by grain yield and grain weight per panicle amounted to 10.4% and 9.4% respectively. The 1000 grain weight (1%) didn’t respond to selection. Selection revealed significant differences between progenies and isolated 12 pure lines which were superior in panicle weight and grain yield.

Key Words :Genetic Improvement, Growth Characteristics, Productivity, Selection, Sorghum