Combining ability analysis for seed yield and its components in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

Twenty four lines were crossed with two testers in an L x T mating design to estimate the combining ability for seed yield in sunflower. Non-additive genetic variance played a preponderant role in the inheritance of all the characters studied viz., days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, head diameter, volume weight, hundred seed weight and seed yield per plant. The lines 27, 436 and tester 234A can be considered as superior parents in the present study as they recorded high per se performance with positively significant general combining ability effect for seed yield/plant. Among the 48 hybrids evaluated, crosses viz., 234A x 436, 234A x 440 and 234A x 235 were considered as superior hybrids as they recorded high per se performance and significant sca effect for seed yield/plant.