Genetic analysis of morpho-physiological characteristics of sunflower under optimum and limited water conditions

Five CMS lines and four restorer lines (tester) were crossed in a line × tester scheme in order to analyze general and specific combining abilities and gene effects in sunflower for some agronomic traits. Hybrids were evaluated in a randomized complete block design, with three replications under optimum and limited water conditions in the Agriculture Research Station, Khoy, during 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. Plant height, head diameter, seeds per head, days to beginning of flowering, days to maturity, proline percent, protein percent, and Chlorophyll b were found to be controlled mainly by dominance effects. CMS lines AGK30 and testers RGHK25 and RGHK50 turned out to be the best general combiners for seed and oil yield. The highest positive and significant GCA for plant height, head diameter, and the number of seeds per head were achieved for RGHK25. The hybrid combination of AGK44 × RGHK56 showed high specific combining ability for seed and oil yield.

Keywords:

Combining ability , Line × tester , Sunflower