Estimation of mean performance and genetic association of yield and yield components traits under rainfed condition in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at the Research Fields, ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The material for present study consisted of twenty newly developed mono and multi headed restorer lines including CMS lines. The data for agronomic and yield traits i.e. days to 50% flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, head diameter, volume weight, 100 seed weight, seed yield per plant oil content and oil yield was recorded. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for almost all characters which favour the selection. Associations among characters especially indicated that among the seven traits studied, seed yield per plant had a highly significant positive association with head diameter and significant negative correlation with days to 50% flowering and days to maturity. The genotypes, COSF-6B, COSF-7B, RGP-11-P1-S2, RGP-58-P4-S1-1 and RGP-46-P3 were identified as the most important genotypes for different traits and should be utilized in heterosis breeding programme to realize high heterosis for yield and yield contributing traits.