Association among Morphological and Yield Related Traits in Different Accessions of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

Abstract—The present research was conducted to study the association among morphological and yield related traits in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Ten accessions of sunflower were grown in research area of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad following Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The data were recorded on quantitative traits i.e., plant height, number of leaves per plant, days to 50% maturity, leaf area, head diameter, stem girth, achene weight per plant and 100 achene weight and qualitative traits i.e. leaf shape, head shape, head angle at maturity, achene colour, achene stripes. The recorded data were subjected to analysis of variance, correlation and path analysis. Significant differences for all the accessions were found for all quantitative traits. Test of independence revealed that bird damage depends on the head angle and head shape. Highest heritability was recorded for plant height followed by stem girth and days to 50% maturity indicated highest contribution of genotypes in expressions of these traits. Both Genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients were estimated of these traits among accessions. Days to 50% maturity, Plant height, leaf area and number of leaves per plant showed significant and positive correlation on achene weight per plant. In path coefficient analysis all traits had positive direct effect except 100 achene weight and leaf area. Head diameter and number of leaves per plant had positive indirect effect through days to 50% maturity on achene weight per plant while stem girth and 100 achene weight had positive indirect effect through plant height on achene weight per plant. The accessions J-1, J-2, J-3 and J-8 showed better performance for the leaf area, days to 50% maturity, head diameter, achene weight per plant and 100 achene weight. These accessions may be further used for the development of high achene weight per plant sunflower cultivars. It is suggested that days to 50% maturity, plant height and number of leaves per plant may be used as selection criteria for future breeding strategy.