Genetic potential of induced mutant restorer lines for producing high yielding early maturing sunflower hybrids

Twenty five M₂ mutant lines, derived from 0.3 and 0.4% ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) treatment of RHA-298 were crossed with two standard cytoplasmic male sterile lines, viz., CM5–234A and CM5–851A. The resultant 50 hybrids along with two check hybrids, analysed in line x tester design, exhibited significant gca and sca variance. Some mutant lines (P₁, P₈ and P₁₅) with very high gca effects for majority of characters were identified for use in breeding programme. Crosses with high sca effects involved parents with low x low gca effects. The CM5–234A X P₁₅ hybrid showed higher heterQsis for seed yield than the control F₁ hybrids and was also early.