Evaluation of diverse inbred lines for seed set under autogamy, geitonogamy/and open pollination in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Seventy seven diverse sunflower inbred lines, four hybrids and one open pollinated variety (Morden) were evaluated for autogamy, geitonogamy and open pollination based on six characters viz., head diameter, no. of filled seeds per head, no. of unfilled seeds per head, test weight, oil per cent and yield per plant under three treatments namely complete bagging (SP), bagging with hand pollination (HP) and open pollination (OP). The mean per cent of seed set was observed to be higher under open pollination (80.8%) followed by bagging with hand pollination (58.35%) and complete bagging (50.37%). Under HP, SP, hybrids recorded higher per cent of seed set (62.50%, 59.06%) followed by inbred lines (58.58%, 50.47%) and Morden variety (40.25%, 28.11%). Among the inbred lines GPI 1949, GPI 1499, ARM-239 and ARM-240 recorded higher rate of seed set under complete bagging and were on par with yields of HP and OP. These promising inbred lines having high self compatibility should be used in sunflower breeding programme.