Muhammad Ghayas1*, Ayesha Farooq Cheema2, Asadullah3, Sara Rauf 4 and Amina Ashfaq4*
1Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan 2Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha 3Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture Lasbela, University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, (LUAWMS), Uthal, Balochistan, Pakistan 4Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
*Corresponding author: ghayasmengal321@gmail.com (MG); ashfaqamina56@gmail.com (AA)
Sunflower is an important oil seed crop that has the potential to boost Pakistan’s economy. The major goal of this work was to estimate heterosis and heritability estimates for agronomic traits. Within three replications, four lines GH-1, GH-2, GH-3, and GH-4, as well as three testers B-4, B-6, and B-8, were sowed in a Randomized complete block design (RCBD). In the spring of 2022, the performance of parents and crosses was evaluated at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Data were recorded for number of leaves, leaf area, plant height, internodal length, head diameter, number of whorls of achene per head, 100-seed weight, and seed yield per plant. For a number of leaves, the line GH-3 and tester B-4 showed significant desired values. Line GH-1 had highly significant GCA for leaf area and tester B-6 had also desired GCA for leaf area. For plant height, line GH-4 had significant GCA for Plant height and tester B-4 also desired GCA for plant height. For internodal length, the line GH-2 and tester B-6 had significant GCA. For head diameter, line GH-1 and tester B-8 showed the highest value of GCA. The line GH-4 and tester B-8 revealed the highest GCA values for a number of whorl/achenes per head. The line GH-3 and tester B-6 exhibited the highest GCA values for 100-seed weight. The line GH-4 and tester B-8 recorded the highest GCA for seed yield/plant. The cross GH-1 × B-6 had significant SCA values for all studied agronomic traits. The cross combination of GH-2 × B-8 showed negatively non-significant SCA results for plant height trait. For the number of leaves, the cross GH-1 × B-6 showed positive and highly significant heterotic effects over the mid and better parent. For the leaf area, the cross GH-2 × B-6 exhibited a positive and highly significant heterotic effect. For head diameter, the cross GH-1 × B-8 showed positive and highly significant heterotic effects over the mid and better parent. For the number of whorls of achene per head, the cross GH-2×B-6 exhibits maximum positive heterotic effects. For 100-seed weight, the cross GH-1×B-4 exhibited significantly positive heterotic effects over the better parent. For seed yield per plant, the cross GH-2×B-6 has maximum heterotic effects.