Combining Ability Studies for Seed Yield and It's Contributing Traits in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

A Line × tester analysis of 45 hybrids in sunflower using three CMS lines and 15 testers was carried out to study the combining ability for seed yield and its contributing traits in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The result revealed that, variance due to SCA was greater than GCA for all the traits except stem diameter and 100-seed weight, which indicated preponderance of non-additive gene action for all traits, while additive gene action for stem diameter and 100-seed weight. Line CMS 54A was a good general combiner for early flowering, early maturity, plant height, test weight, seed yield and oil yield, while CMS 56A was a good general combiner for hull content and oil content. The testers RHA 93 and RHA 115R transmitted allele with additive effects for seed and oil yield. RHA 6D- 5-3-5 was good general combiner for early flowering and early maturity, while RHA 95C-1 was good general combiner for oil content. In lines CMS 54A and CMS 57A and in testers GKVK-1, GKVK-2, RHA 95C-1, RHA 6D-5-3-5, RHA-272-II, RHA 275, RHA-298, RHA-115R and RHA-115R possessed favorable alleles for most of the traits. Among hybrids CMS 57A × RHA 93 was identified as the best specific combiner for seed yield, oil yield, volume weight, head and stem diameter. CMS 56A × RHA 6D-5-3-5 was the best specific combination for early flowering and early maturity. While CMS 54A × RHA 6D-5-3-5 was the best specific combiner for economic trait oil content and oil yield.