Combining ability studied for morphological and other quality traits of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under line× tester fashion

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to check the improved oil contents, oil quality, and achene yield. The total number of five females’ lines (PBG-101, 102,103,104, and 105) were crossed with three testers (PBG-106, 107, and 108) to produce fifteen crosses. Female lines were crossed with male testers for the production of hybrids in the first season. Then these hybrids with their parents were sown in RCBD design by using three replications in the next coming season for checking their performance. Then combining ability (GCA and SCA) of different yield contributing traits (internodal length, leaf area, number of leaves plant-1, achene yield plant-1, and quality-related traits (oil contents, oleic acid, and linoleic acid) were checked. Among the lines, PBG-103 had shown the highly considerable GCA for leaf area and significant GCA for internodal length, PBG-105 had shown the highly considerable GCA for the leaf area, oil contents, and negative considerable GCA for linoleic acid. Among the testers, PBG-105 was shown the highly considerable GCA for internodal length and oil contents. Hybrid (PBG-104 × PBG-106) had shown the highly considerable SCA effects for the number of leaves plant-1, achene yield plant-1, and oleic acid. The highly significant results were shown by the crosses (PBG-105 × PBG-108, PBG-103 × PBG-107, PBG-102 × PBG-106) for oil contents. The cross PBG-103 × PBG-106 shown highly considerable with negative SCA for linoleic acid. These hybrids would be used for the improvement of yield and other quality traits in future breeding programs.