Intergeneric hybrids between cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L) and Verbesina helianthoides (genus Verbesina): Morphological and biochemical aspects

Abstract

The direct organogenesis method in immature F1 hybrid embryos from sunflower used for the first time in this study, was successfully applied for production of new forms from the intergeneric cross Helianthus annuus (cv. Albena) × Verbesina helianthoides (genus Verbesina). A large number of new sunflower lines were produced after self-pollination and individual selection. Agronomic traits such as oil content in seed, 1000-seed weight leaf width, leaf length, number of leaves, length of petiole, internode length, head diameter, stem diameter, diameter of branch head, number of branches, length of branches, number of ray florets, seed width, seed length and seed thickness were investigated. After characterization of the hybrid progenies according to the above indices, the conclusion can be drawn that lines 131 R, 138 R, 140 R, 143 R and 144 R show 76.5% intermediate phenotype in comparison with the two parental forms. Some of the new restorer lines were successfully used in heterosis breeding of sunflower. The positive change was 35.3% and the negative change was 11.8%. Line 140 R is of positive breeding importance because it exhibited an oil value exceeding the cultural and wild parents by 2.9 and 24.6%, respectively.