Abstract

                                A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was developed with high and low oil content genotypes in sunflower and used in the study. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was high for the characters viz., oil yield per plant, seed yield per plant, 100-seed weight, head diameter and plant height. The genotypic coefficient variation (GCV) was high for the characters viz., oil yield per plant, seed yield per plant and 100-seed weight. Heritability was high for oil yield per plant, seed yield per plant, volume weight, plant height, 100-seed weight and oil content. High genetic advance as a percentage of mean was observed for the traits viz., oil yield per plant, seed yield per plant, 100-seed weight, plant height and volume weight. Positive skewness was observed for head diameter and 100-seed weight. No skewness was observed for other traits. In case of kurtosis, the traits viz., 100-seed weight and oil yield per plant recorded platykurtic nature. The trait oil content expressed leptokurtic nature. Correlation studies revealed that oil yield per plant had significant positive correlation with head diameter, 100-seed weight, volume weight, seed yield per plant and oil content. Oil content had significant positive correlation with seed colour. Head diameter had positive significant correlation with 100-seed weight and seed yield per plant. Black seed colour and non striped seed surface along with other yield component traits viz., head diameter, 100-seed weight, volume weight and seed yield per plant could be considered as selection indices for the development of high oil yielding sunflower genotypes.

Key words : Sunflower, Seed colour, Stripes, Variability, Correlation.