Abstract

                                Three varieties namely CO 4, Morden, COSFV 5 and two hybrids TCSH 1 and KBSH 44 were selected for the study. Simple correlation coefficients were estimated among characters for each variety and hybrids separately. Two traits viz., seed yield and 100-seed weight are important selection indices for the improvement of oil yield improvement in respect of both varieties and hybrids. Thalamus weight can be considered as a selection index for the improvement of seed yield and oil yield in respect of hybrids only. Like wise, the oil content is an important selection index for the oil yield improvement in respect of varieties only. It can also be inferred that the results obtained from the association analysis of data on varieties and hybrids together will give ambiguous results and have an adverse impact on the yield improvement programme. Hence computing separate association analysis for each variety and hybrid is always desirable to identify selection indices for the improvement of sunflower

Key words : Sunflower, correlation, varieties and hybrids, selection index