Combining ability analysis for seed yield, its components and oil content in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

Six Cytoplasmic Male Sterile lines and nine testers and their 54 F1 (crosses) along with two standard checks DRSH-1 and PDKVSH-952 were evaluated in Randomized Block Design with three replications at the experimental field of Oilseeds Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during kharif 2017. Among the parents two lines HA-303A and HA-228A and four testers AK-1R, RHA-138-2R, 856R and EC-601951 were found to have best general combining ability for seed yield, its contributing traits and oil content, these parents may be useful to develop better sunflower hybrid with high seed yield and oil content. The highest significant specific combining ability effect for seed yield was recorded by the four crosses viz. AKSF-15-1-2A x TSG-187 (8.43) followed by HA-228A x GMU-1116 (7.08), HA-303A x AK-1R (6.86) and AKSF-15-1-2A x RHA-138-2R (6.07). On the basis of mean performance, gca and sca effects of crosses, four crosses viz., HA-303A x AK-1R, HA-303A x RHA-138-2R, HA-303A x EC-512687 and HA-249A x 856R were identified as promising crosses. Thus, these crosses may be tested in preliminary or multilocation hybrid trials for further commercial exploitation.