Effect of drought on yield traits of sunflower restorer lines

Abstract

A study was conducted to screen eight sunflower restorer lines for tolerance to drought under field conditions based on yield characteristics. Moisture stress was imposed in stress plots from 45 DAS to harvest. Whereas, control plots were irrigated at 10 days intervals throughout the crop growth period. Results revealed that water stress showed repressing effect on yield related attributes like capitulum dry weight by 36%, total number of seeds per capitulum by 25%, seed yield per plant by 34% compared to control. Significant difference among R-lines was observed for head weight, test weight, harvest index and oil content. R-lines RGP 33-P5, RGP 50-P1, RGP 61-P1and RGP 61-P2 showed high HI under water stress conditions. Most of the R-lines have increased oil content under stress. RGP 50-P1, RGP 60-P2 and RGP 61-P1 have decreased oil content under stress. Based on Stress Tolerance Index and seed yield under stress, RGP 21-P6 and RGP 61-P1were identified as tolerant to water stress out of eight R-lines studied. These lines also showed superior morphological, physiological traits. RGP 32-P1 and RGP 33-P5 were found to be more sensitive.