CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) GERMPLASM

Abstract

One hundred and ninety six germplasm accessions of sunflower were evaluated for yield and yield components to study the extent of variation in different quantitative traits. The germplasm accessions were also characterized on the basis of qualitative traits. Highest phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for lOO-seed weight, followed by seed yield, oil yield, number of filled seeds per plant, plant height and head diameter. Heritability was highest for lOO-seed weight (72.0%), followed by seed (68.60/.), number of filled seeds per plant (64.9%), oil yield (64.1%), and oil content (56.0%). Genetic advance as per centof meanwas highest for oil yield (50.7%), followed by seed yield (50.6%) and numberof filled seeds perplant (33.9%). Qualitative traits also showedwidevariability among the genotypes.