Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance studies for economically important traits in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study genetic parameters for eight different traits viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, head diameter, 100 seed weight, volume weight, seed yield/plot and oil content at ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research during rabi 2019-2020. The study included a total of 67 genotypes including 5 CMS lines and 10 newly developed restorer lines and their 50 F1 hybrids along with two checks (KBSH-44 and DRSH-1). Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all the traits. High variation was observed for plant height and seed yield/plant and lowest was observed for 100 seed weight, oil content and head diameter. The difference between GCV and PCV was low for all the characters indicating less influence of environmental factors on the expression of these traits. High heritability with high genetic advance was observed for plant height, head diameter, 100 seed weight and seed yield/plant indicating additive gene action in the expression of these traits. Simple phenotypic selection may be effective for improving these characters. High heritability coupled with low genetic advance was observed for oil content suggesting the involvement of non-additive gene action in the expression of this trait indicating little scope for further improvement through individual plant selection.