G X E interaction and stability analysis in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The present study was carried out to identify sunflower hybrids suitable for water and salt stress areas which will be highly essential for increasing area of cultivation under sunflower. This study included sixty hybrids along with their parents viz., four Cytoplasmic Male Sterile (CMS) lines and fifteen restores. The 60 hybrids and their 19 parents were evaluated in three different environments viz., Normal condition, Rainfed condition and Salt stress condition. From this study it was concluded that the hybrids are more adaptive than parents for yield and yield components. Among the 60 hybrids studied, 821 A x 60-1, 821 A x CO 4 and 852 A x RHA 298 were found to be stable with high mean, regression coefficient (bi) around unity and deviation from regression coefficient (S²_dl) around zero for the three characters viz., diameter of stem, head diameter and seed yield per plant.These hybrids were concluded as stable hybrids.