Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

The present investigation entitled “Standard Heterosis studies for seed yield and yield contributing traits in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). four CMS lines and eight restorer lines were crossed in line x tester design to produce 32 hybrids during kharif- 2021-22 and these 32 hybrids along with two checks were evaluated for days to 50 percent flowering, day to maturity, plant height (cm), head diameter (cm), seed filling percentage (%), 100 seed weight (g), volume weight (g/100ml), hull content (%), seed yield per plant (g) and oil content (%). The range of heterosis over best check LSFH-171 was from (-52.81) per cent CMS-47A x IR-1-1 to (30.67) per cent CMS-234A x MRHA-2. Whereas for another check LSFH-35 was from (-50.88) per cent CMS-47A x IR-1-1 to (36.02) per cent CMS-234A x MRHA-2 for seed yield per plant. For oil content the range of standard heterosis over check LSFH-171 was from (3.62) per cent CMS-234A x EC-502036 to (37.06) per cent CMS-249A x IR-1-1 and for other check LSFH-35 was from (-21.67) per cent CMS-234A x EC-502036 to (3.61) per cent CMS-249A x IR-1-1.

The magnitude of heterosis over the check LSFH-171 and LSFH-35 for most of the characters in the present study were highly appreciable. Among the hybrids CMS-234A X MRHA-2, CMS-249A X RHA-1-1, CMS-47A X MRHA-2, CMS-234A X RHA-1-1 and CMS-10A X MRHA-2 was most promising for seed yield /plant (g) on the basis of per se performance, highest significant standard heterosis for seed yield and yield contributing traits.