Combining Ability of Agronomic Traits in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Using Line X Tester Analysis

Abstract

Eight lines and six testers of sunflower were crossed using line x tester method. The 48 F1 single cross combinations along with their parents and two checks were planted in simple lattice design with two replications. The results of analysis of variance showed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits including plant height, head diameter, life-cycle duration, grain yield, 1000 seed weight, oil content and oil yield. Line x tester analysis revealed significant effects of genotypes, hybrids and interaction effects of line x tester for all the studied traits. The testers including RF81-25 and RF81-30 with significant positive general combining ability (GCA) effects for grain yield and 1000 seed weight respectively and also RF-131/1 with significant negative GCA effect for plant height were considered as good combiners and also the lines including AF80-488/1/2/1 and AF80-488/2/1/1 were good combiners for grain yield and 1000 seed weight respectively. The crosses including AF80-460/2/1/1 x RF81-25 and AF8-6937 x RF81-30 had significant positive specific combining ability (SCA) effects for grain yield, oil content and oil yield. Estimating low narrow sense heritability for all the traits indicating the importance of non additive genetics effects for them, so for improving these traits hybrid method will be effective.

GGE biplot analysis of Line by tester for seed yield and its attributes in sunflower

“…In consequence of substantial genetic variability among lines, tester and their crosses (lines × tester) for all studied traits as shown in Table 1, further biometrical analysis as combining ability and heterosis was valid. These results are in agreement with the results of [2,[11][12][13][14][15] who also reported such type of findings. The highest variance due to specific combining ability was detected in plant height (61.80), stem diameter (0.03), head diameter (1.14), 100-seed weight (0.07), seed weight plant -1 (2.37) and seed oil content (1.20) as compared to general one.…”

“…Also, in other reports, for seed weight, seed weight plant -1 , plant height and head diameter of sunflower, are more important non-additive gene action than additive ones have been reported by Škorić et al [3]. 13 new cytoplasmic male sterile lines and 3 testers were used by Hladni et al to develop 39 F1 hybrids, they reported that the parents and their crosses were significantly different in their mean values for plant height and head diameter [4]. The parent with more plant height was dominant over parent with head diameter while parent with more head diameter was dominant over parent with average plant height.…”

Characterization for Drought Tolerance and Physiological Efficiency in Novel Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Sources of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

“…In consonance to our findings, higher positive SCA for head diameter; for 1,000-achene weight; and for seed yield and yield-related traits and for oil content was previously reported [58-60] The heterotic performance of hybrid combinations depends upon the combining abilities of their parents [59]. The superior hybrids were obtained by crossing CMS females and restorer males with high GCA and SCA effects [54]. The overall variation among CMS lines for studied traits were greater than the restorer lines indicating some degrees of maternal effect on traits, particularly for seed and oil yield [61].…”

“…This also shows the importance of plant material diversity used for similar studies [53]. Similarly, significant GCA effect for seed yield was stated in the previous studies in that parent which were good general combiners for economic traits might be extensively used in hybridization programs to identify suitable parents for hybridization and developing potential hybrids for seed yield [54,55]. The female lines CMS-234A from cultivated source and CMS-XA, ARG-2A and PRUN-29A from the wild source appeared as good combiners for oil content.…”

Heterosis and Combing Ability Studies for Yield and Yield Component Traits in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

“…The GCA estimates revealed that female lines CMS-A1(0.735) and CMS-A2 (0.910) and testers RGM-49 (1.206), GMU-520 (0.856) and R-1-F (0.831) manifested significantly higher positive GCA effects for head diameter; whereas two lines (CMS-A6, CMS-A1) and seven testers (R-127, R-393, RGM-49, R-103, RGM-69, DOR-R3 and RGM-39) for seed yield plant −1 ; and two lines (CMS-A6 and CMS-A5) and four testers (DOR-R3, R-127 and EC-602060) for test weight. Considerably high positive GCA effects with predominantly additive genes suggested that such females lines can be crossed with good general combiner testers to develop potential hybrids, synthetics and composite varieties to improve head diameter (Machikowa et al, 2011); seeds yield (Hladni et al, 2011); test weight and volume weight (Andarkhor et al, 2012). Mirarab and Ahmadikhah (2010) stated that parents which were good general combiners for economic traits might be extensively used in hybridization programmes so as to identify suitable parents for hybridization and developing potential hybrids for 1,000-achene weight and seed yield.…”