NEHRU, S.D.DIVYA, B.S.2021-09-252021-09-252018-08-01Th-12052https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810176244Development and use of diverse CGMS systems-based hybrids is expected to overcome genetic vulnerability of hybrids based on a single source of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). An investigation was carried out to assess general combining ability (gca) and per se performance of seed parents, and specific combining ability (sca) and heterosis of hybrids based on three diverse CMS sources (H. annuus, H. argophyllus and H. praecox) for seed yield and its component traits in sunflower. Nine seed parents (three each from three CMS sources) were crossed to nine testers in Line × Tester mating design. The parents and resultant 81 hybrids along with three checks (KBSH-44, KBSH- 53 and RSFH-1887) were evaluated for gca, sca and heterosis. The seed parents, BCGA- 28 (H. praecox) and BCGA-44 (H. argophyllus) were identified as desirable general combiners for productivity per se traits. Mean performances of seed parents were good indicators of their gca effects for plant height, hundred seed weight and oil content. Relatively high magnitude of correlation between sum of the parental gca effects with hybrids’ per se performance suggested that parental gca effects retained fairly high predictability of hybrid per se performance for all the traits. H. praecox-based hybrids involving the common seed parent (BCGA-28) and restorers (RHA 95 C-1, RCR 60 P and RHA 284) were desirable specific combinations and heterotic for multiple traits including seed yield plant-1 suggesting the need for large scale multi locations/ seasons testing to confirm their yield potential for commercial exploitation.EnglishThesis