Influence of sowing dates and pollen sources on seed yield and quality parameters of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of sowing dates and pollen sources on yield and seed quality in sunflower and to find out the optimum planting window and pollen sources for large-scale multiplication of sunflower hybrid seed. Four sowing dates and five pollen sources were tested in the Tilhan Tec-SUNH-1 sunflower hybrid to study their impact on seed yield and seed quality. Out of which the sowing dates(S4)- sowing during second fortnight of November is found to be best to obtain maximum seed yield 713 Kg/ha, followed by S3- the second fortnight of October with 691 Kg/ha seed yield. Among the different pollen sources tested, pollination with fresh pollen recorded highest yield (713 Kg/ha) followed by pollen stored at -80 °C (694 Kg/ha). The pollen viability of frozen pollen (-80 °C) is found to be 15 days. The seed quality parameters are observed to be best in Sowing-3 and Sowing-4 with pollen source P1, P3 and P4.