Genetic Analysis and Stability Performance in Sunflower

The present investigation was laid out to understand the combining ability effects, nature of gene action of parents and their hybrids, heterosis and stability performance for seed yield and yield contributing characters in four different environments. The experimental material comprising of 118 entries involving 25 parents, 18 single cross hybrids, 72 three way cross hybrids along with three checks were evaluated in randomized block design with two replications during two crop seasons i.e. Rabi, 2018 and Kharif, 2019 at two locations i.e. Parbhani (E1 and E3) and Latur (E2 and E4) comprising of four environments following recommended package of practices. The observations were recorded on ten traits viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), head diameter (cm), seed filling (%), 100 seed weight (g), volume weight (g), hull content (%), oil content (%) and seed yield per plant (g). The genetic analysis for SCH set and TWCH set was carried out separately using line x tester design as suggested by Kempthorne (1957). Statistical analysis was done for estimating combining ability effects, heterosis and stability parameters using suitable procedures.