Heterosis Studies for Yield Contributing Traits and Oil Content in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The experimental material was developed by crossing newly developed five lines and eleven testers in Line x Tester fashion during rabi 2012. Parents, their fifty five hybrids and one check were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications at Oilseed Research Unit, Dr. PDKV, Akola during kharif 2013 to estimate extent of heterosis in sunflower genotypes. The highest and significant average heterosis for seed yield per plant and yield contributing charecters was recorded by cross combination CMS 10A X AKSF 6R (115.73%) followed by CMS 21A X RHA 138-2 (114.96%). The maximum significant heterobeltiosis for seed yield per plant was recorded in the CMS 10A x AK 1R (101.01%) followed by AKSF-12A x PKV 110R (98.12%). The highest standard heterosis over best check i.e. PKVSH 952 for seed yield per plant was recorded by CMS 10A X AKSF 6R (34.90%) followed by CMS 21A X RHA 138-2 (28.67%). The crosses AKSF-12A x DOR-R-2-1 (10.26%), CMS 21A x PKV 105R (10.22%), AKSF-1A x 298R (9.64%), AKSF 1A x DOR-2-1 (9.55%), CMS 21A x AKSF 12R (9.20%), and MSSR 1A x 856R (8.05%) recorded the significant positive standard heterosis for oil content over PKVSH-952. On the basis of mean performance and percent heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis out of fifty five crosses viz., CMS 10A X AKSF 6R, CMS 21A X RHA 138-2, AKSF-1A X RHA 138-2, AKSF-1A X AKSF 6R and CMS 21A x 856 R were identified as promising crosses.