Development of improved varieties and hybrids in safflower_2012

Abstract

Maintenance of A- and B-line: Maintained 62 sister lines of 23 B-lines and 59 A-lines. Seeds of two A- and 2 B-lines were multiplied in isolation by pollination through honeybee at two locations. Development of CMS-based hybrids and seed production: Four hybrids viz., DSH-177, DSH-226, DSH-229 and DSH-241 were entered into IVHT of AICRP (Safflower). Their seed was produced in isolation. One hybrid (DSH-185) has been promoted to AVHT-I of AICRP (Safflower). Ten new hybrids were produced to evaluate at multilocations under AICRP (Safflower).

Development of male parents and varieties

Total 328 male parents were evaluated in 18 preliminary yield evaluation trials in RBD with three replications. Of which, 30 parents were found to be high yielders. Seven of them that are resistant to Fusarium wilt were entered into IVT-2011-12 of AICRP (Safflower).

High seed yielding lines: Fifteen parental lines yielded 72-145% higher than the highest yielding check variety A1. Six high lines yielding 73-105% higher over A1 were wilt resistant.

High seed yielding high oil lines: Six lines with high oil content (34%) yielded 49-96% higher over the best check variety A1.

High yielding high oleic line: One line with 80% oleic acid and 34% oil content yielded 20% higher seed yield than A1.

Breeding for Fusarium wilt resistance A total of 132 breeding lines were screened in wilt sick plot along with susceptible check ‘Nira’. Of which, 80 breeding lines, 11 high oleic lines (80% oleic acid) exhibited wilt resistance (0-15 %). Thirteen breeding lines confirmed wilt resistance reaction in the fourth consecutive year in wilt sick plot. Four wilt resistant lines have been entered into Uniform Disease Nursery (UDN) of AICRP (Safflower) for multilocation screening against wilt.

Screening against Alternaria leaf blight One hundred and fifty plant progenies of interspecific derivatives were planted on 11 August 2012 to screen against Alternaria. Four entries exhibited 20% Alternaria. Pre-breeding Twelve aphid tolerant prebreeding lines were entered into multilocation aphid screening trail of AICRP (Safflower). Fatty acid composition and oil content of nine pre-breeding lines and the variety A1 were assayed. Oleic acid content ranged from 17.7 to 82.99%, the highest oleic acid was recorded in pre-breeding line ole-9-P2-P4-P1 (82.99%) followed by ole-9-bulk-2-P3-P16 (81.79%) and ole-9-P2-P3-P21 (81.72%) whereas A1 recorded the lowest oleic content of 17.7%. The highest oil content (34%) was obtained from genotype ole-9-P2-P1-P22, ole-9-P2-P4-P37, ole-9-P2-P3-P21 and ole-9-P2-P4-P16.

Registration of safflower breeding line One safflower breeding line namely, 96-508-2-90, which is resistant to wilt and tolerant to aphid and moisture stress, was registered with Plant Germplasm Registration Committee (PGRC) of ICAR during XXIVth Meeting of PGRC held on 29 November 2011.