Gawande, Dr. V. L.GARG, ARZOO.2023-12-132023-12-132022-09-27GARG, ARZOO. (2021). Evaluation of parents and hybrids using Line x Tester analysis for seed yield and its components in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Department of Agricultural Botany, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. M. Sc. 2021. Print. x,101p. (Unpublished).https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810202911The present investigation was carried out to know the magnitude of heterosis, combining ability of parents and crosses for yield, its contributing traits and oil content. Thirty crosses [obtained by crossing two females (testers) with fifteen males (lines)], along with seventeen parents and three checks viz., PBNS 12, PKV Pink and A1 were evaluated in Randomized Block design during rabi 2019-20 with three replications at experimental field of Department of Agril. Botany, Dr.PDKV, Akola and observations were recorded for seed yield, yield contributing traits and oil content. Analysis of variance indicated presence of substantial genetic variability for the characters studied. The highest magnitude of heterosis over both standard checks and better parent for the traits days to 50 % flowering was noticed in AKS CMS 3A x GMU 2830 and in cross AKS CMS 3A x GMU 590 for days to maturity over mid and better parent. Maximum heterosis for seed yield per plant was exhibited by hybrid AKS CMS 3A x GMU 2273 over mid parent, over better parent and over standard check. Further, AKS CMS 2A x GMU 6891 exhibited significant average heterosis, heterobeltiosis for oil content. Whereas AKS CMS 2A x GMU 7573 exhibited maximum useful heterosis for oil content. The parents, GMU 590, GMU 2273 and GMU 589 among the lines and AKS CMS 3A among the testers were found to possess good GCA effects for seed yield and most of yield contributing characters. For oil content, GMU 7573, GMU 2273 and GMU 2830 among lines were best general combiners. These parents can be used in further breeding programme for improvement of concerned trait. The crosses AKS CMS 2A x GMU 1731 and AKS CMS 3A x GMU 7448 were good specific combinations for number of capsules per plant, and seed volume weight. Whereas, crosses AKS CMS 3A x GMU 2273, AKS CMS 2A x GMU 6891 were for seed yield per plant and seed filling percentage. Three promising crosses viz., AKS CMS 3A x GMU 2273, AKS CMS 3A x GMU 590 and AKS CMS 3A x GMU 589 identified on the basis of high mean, significant SCA effects and high heterosis over best check in desirable direction were detected. These crosses may be exploited for heterosis breeding and also for isolating desirable recombinants from advanced segregating generations (by using “B” line of CMS based testers along same male parent in concerned cross). Intermating plants from early segregating gnerations may be done to break undesirable linkages and to isolate desirable segregants for yield and contributing traits due to predominance of SCA variance.EnglishThesis