Character association and path analysis in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The present study was undertaken during Summer 2009 at ZARS, GKVK, Bangalore. The material used in this study was provided by All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Sunflower, Bengaluru. The base material comprised of thirty eight sterility maintainer lines (‘B’ lines) and thirty eight fertility restorer lines (‘R’ lines). The studies on correlation and path coefficient analysis in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) showed that days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, head diameter, seed filling per cent, 100 seed weight, total dry matter per plant and oil content characters were positively and significantly correlated with seed yield per plant. Among these characters head diameter recorded maximum direct effect on seed yield per plant whereas all other characters recorded low direct effect. Seed filling per cent and plant height recorded maximum indirect effect on seed yield per plant through head diameter. The results of the study revealed that the character head diameter could be given emphasis for isolation of desirable genotypes, with high genetic potential for seed yield.