Evaluation of combining ability and heterosis for seed yield in breeding lines of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) using line x tester analysis

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken with a view to estimate extent of heterosis, per se performance, combining ability, genotype x environment interactions and stability parameters in sunflower. The experimental material comprised of diverse 3 CMS lines and 14 testers crossed in line x tester mating design to obtain 42 F1s. The resultant hybrids along with their parents and 3 checks were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications for combining ability. The results revealed that the magnitude of SCA variance was higher as compared to GCA for all the characters indicated the predominance of non-additive gene inheritance of most of the traits. The line CMS-17A and the testers HAM-183, 3376-R, IB-19 x R-274, KOP –I x RHA-856, KOP-I x 15 NB-7, R-348 x R-274 and RHA-6D-1 x R-272-4 were found good general combiners for head diameter, per cent seed filling and seed yield per plant. The best crosses based on the heterosis, SCA effects and per se performance the crosses CMS-17A x (RHA-6D-1 x R-272-4), CMS-234A x (R-348 x R-274), CMS-234A x (KOP-I x RHA-856), ND-2A x (RHA-6D-1 x R-272-4) and CMS-17A x 3376-R posses good seed yield per plant over best checks DRSH-1, KBSH-44 and Phule raviraj. These crosses can be used for further heterosis breeding programme and needs to be evaluating for genotype x environment interactions.