PRODUCTION OF SUNFLOWER HYBRIDS AND THEIR STUDY IN AUTUMN SEASON TO RECOGNIZE BEST YIELDING HYBRIDS

The research was in autumn season during the year (2019-20) at the research area of Rajawala farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad to study the best performing hybrids in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in autumn season. Experimental material was obtained from USDA and NARC. CMS lines and restorers were planted in the field and crossed in line × Tester. In next autumn season the crosses and their parents was evaluated with respect to their performance for yield and related traits in randomized complete block design (RCBD) using three replications. The data was taken on traits for days to germination, days to flower initiation, days to flower completion, days to flower maturity, plant height, internodal distance, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, number of whorls per flower, head diameter, 100 achene weight and achene weight per head. The data was first exposed to analysis of variance to find out the significant and non-significant differences among parents and crosses. Then combining ability and heterosis was calculated to find out the best general and specific combiners among the parents. 7-A, 23-A, 27-A, 80-R, 83-R and 96-R proved as good general combiners in both the seasons. 7-A x 86-R, 11-A x 83-R, 23-A x 81-R, 25-A x 80-R, 25-A x 94-R and 27-A x 80-R declared as best hybrids in terms of yield.