Environmental plasticity of sunflower lines for valuable economic traits

Abstract

Our aim was to study the environmental plasticity of female sunflower lines for valuable economic traits, to select lines for heterosis breeding - sources of valuable economic traits with different categories of environmental plasticity. Results and Discussion. Expression of economically valuable traits and their environmental plasticity were studied in female maternal sunflower lines, including lines bred at NAAS institutions. Analyses of variance and regression showed that the lines were ranked according to the genotypic effect and the regression coefficient of these traits. Sunflower lines, which give relatively high yields and demonstrate optimal responses to the year conditions, are recommended to use in breeding for adaptability: short-season line Skh 1006 A (1.48 t/ha), early ripening line Skh 503 A (1.56 t/ha) and mid-early line Od 1042 A (1.60 t/ha). Early ripening line Skh 1002 A (50.4%) and mid-early line Od 1024 A (50.1%) are recommended to use in breeding programs as sources of high oil content and optimal expression of this trait across the years. Line Skh 51 A with a consistently high 1000-achene weight is a valuable source of large seeds. Mid-early line Od 1024 A is noticeable for a stable 1000-achene weight across the years and can serve as a valuable source in breeding programs to achieve a desirable level of this trait. A stable diameter of head was noted in early ripening lines Skh 1010 A and Skh 503 A and in mid-early line Skh 1012 A, which can be used as sources of this trait. Conclusions. The levels and environmental plasticity of the valuable economic traits were evaluated in the female sunflower lines. The lines were grouped in ranks according to the genotypic effect and the regression coefficient of the traits. Short-season, early ripening and mid-early sunflower lines have been identified as sources of valuable traits with different categories of response to the year conditions. The sunflower lines combining relatively high yield, oil content, 1000-achene weight and head diameter with an optimal response to the year conditions are recommended to use in breeding for adaptability.