Shadakshari, Y. GVEENA KRISHNA, HEGDE2017-08-032017-08-032015-07-14Th-11075http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810027224Sixty three new sunflower inbred lines were crossed with three CMS lines viz., NDCMS 2A, CMS 234A, CMS 903A to assess their fertility restoration and sterility mairiteriance behavior. Among these, 44 inbred lines were identified as common fertility restorers and five inbred lines were identified as sterility maintainers respectively, for all the three CMS lines. A total of 132 hybrids involving common fertility restorers were evaluated for combining ability and heterosis. The line CMS 234A was a good general combiner· for plant height, seed yield, volume weight, hull content and oil yield. The tester, GMU 736 and GMU 762 were observed to be a good general combiner for seed yield, 100 seed weight, volume weight, hull content and oil yield. The hybrid CMS 903A x GMU 775 was identified as the best specific combination for seed yield, days to maturity, plant height, head diameter, 100 seed weight, hull content, oil content, oil yield. The higher variance due to sea than gca for most of the traits indicated the preponderance of non'-additive gene action. The crosses CMS 903A x GMU 760, CMS 234A x GMU 738, NDCMS 2A x GMU 762, CMS 234A x GMU 739, CMS 903A x GMU 761, NDCMS 2A x GMU 734 were found highly heterotic over the standard checks KBSH 44 and KBSH 53 for plant height , seed yield, volume weight, oil content and oil yield.ennullThesis