Sunflower is sensitive to drought and its hybrids have a limited cytoplasmic diversity. The wild 10 cytoplasmic sources of sunflower are not well exploited to their potential for drought tolerance and hybrid 11 development. In this respect, we carried out a Line × Tester based genetic study using 19 sunflower 12 genotypes representing, 13 cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines from wild and conventional sources, 2 13 maintainer lines, and 4 restorer lines. The CMS and maintainer lines were crossed with restorer lines to 14 develop sixty one-way F1 hybrids. The parents and their hybrids were evaluated under two water 15 regimes viz., normal irrigated and water stress. A total of twelve important plant descriptors were studied 16 over a period of two years. The significant differences were observed between parents and hybrids in both 17 water regimes. Hybrids were higher in average values for all the descriptors than parents. The role of 18 female parent was more prominent in the expression of traits in hybrids as compared to male parents. The
19CMS sources varied significantly regarding seed yield per plant and other physiological traits. Proline 20 content was three times higher in parents and their hybrids under water stress, and it was not correlated 21 with any other descriptor. Accession CMS-PKU-2A was identified as the best general combiner for leaf 22 area and specific leaf weight. Whereas, CMS-234A was the best general combiner for biological yield and 23 photosynthetic efficiency under both the conditions. The cross combinations CMS-ARG-2A × RCR-8297, 24 CMS-234A × P124R, and CMS-38A × P124R were found significant for biological yield, seed yield and oil 25 content under both environments. Overall, this study provides useful information about the cytoplasmic 26 effects on important sunflower traits and drought stress tolerance when used in the different 27 combinations. 28 29 30 1. Introduction 31 Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a commercially important oilseed crop, and its oil is 32 comparable to virgin oil olive for health promoting benefits [1,2]. Botanically, sunflower is a cross-pollinated 33 and self-incompatible plant [3]. Moreover, it out crosses freely with its wild relatives [4]. During the past few 34 decades, the area and production of sunflower have increased because of its day length neutrality, a wider 35 adaptability, and responsiveness to added inputs [5]. Similarly, these attributes of sunflower promote 36 sustainable crop production system when sunflower is used with other crops in crop rotation [6]. The central 37 component of sunflower breeding is the development of hybrids through cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) 38 system [7]. CMS is the absence of fertile pollen in the plant hence eliminates the need for manual 39 emasculation for the development of a successful cross combination. CMS based hybrids system has been 40 extensively distributed throughout the plant kingdom and well exploited for achieving yield targets, disease 41 resistance, and drought tolerance [8-10].
42CMS syst...