Heterotic behaviour of sunflower hybrids in different environments

Abstract

The heterotic behaviour of hybrids varied in magnitude and direction from hybrid to hybrid and environment to environment. Heterosis was expressed across all environments, but its higher magnitude was observed in kharif season at Parbhani (E3 environment) for seed yield per plant. The five crosses viz., SCH-11, SCH-16, SCH-25, SCH-12 and SCH-26 showed significant heterotic estimates over best check hybrid for seed yield per plant and significant or desirable heterosis for head diameter, seed filling, volume weight, 100 seed weight, oil content, days to flowering and days to maturity and therefore identified as best heterotic hybrids for seed yield per plant and its contributing characters. Heterotic expression for seed yield per plant in the hybrids SCH-11, SCH-16, SCH-25, SCH-12 and SCH-26 were associated with heterotic effect for head diameter, seed filling per cent, 100 seed weight and volume weight.