Evaluation of staygreen sunflower lines and their hybrids for yield under drought conditions

Abstract The experimental material for the present study comprised of 28 inbred lines (including two checks) which were developed by mutation and hybridization among the lines from AICRP trials MARS, UAS, Dharwad and on the basis of SPAD readings and stay green nature, they were considered as drought tolerant lines. These lines were used for the present experiment and were evaluated under both normal and moisture stress condition in rain out shelter to study their root characteristics. Among 28 inbreds evaluated, eight inbred lines i.e. DSR-13, DSR-19, DSR-23, DSR-24, DSR-37, DSR-66, DSR-107 and DSR-132 were identified as drought tolerant nature which exhibited least reduction in their yield under moisture stress condition. Simultaneously hybridization programme was also initiated during summer 2018 using these 28 inbred lines as testers (males) and 5 CMS lines as female lines in Line × Tester fashion. Among 140 hybrids developed, only 40 F1 hybrid combinations were further analyzed for heterosis and combining ability studies along with four checks RHA 6D-1, RHA 95C-1, KBSH-53 and Cauvery Champ. Most of the hybrid combinations showed significant negative heterosis for flowering indicating earliness, and also all the combinations showed a positive heterosis for plant height indicating tallness dominant over dwarf checks. The combinations CMS 7-1-1 A × DSR-37 (624 kg/ha), CMS-853A × DSR-19 (624 kg/ha), and CMS-853A × DSR-23 (619 kg/ha) exhibited significant maximum heterosis for seed yield (kg ha−1) over the checks KBSH-53 (496.50 kg/ha) and Cauvery Champ (486.50 kg/ha) showing maximum seed yield per hectare.