Breeding for Identification of Superior High Yielding Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Hybrids for rabi Season in Tolerance to Sunflower Wilt for West Bengal

An experiment was carried out during December 2012-13 to 2014-15 under AICRP Sunflower, Nimpith Centre of Ramkrishna Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra Research Farm, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, to identify the suitable sunflower hybrids for rabi-summer season in West Bengl. The field screening also carried out for sunflower wilt disease resistance in Sunflower in natural field condition. A total of 150 sunflower hybrids developed in AICRP-Sunflower, Nimpith and AICRP-Sunflower, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore were tested including the two National check hybrids namely, KBSH-44 and DRSH-1. Highly significant genetic differences were observed among the hybrids in plant height at harvest, head diameter per plant, seed weight per head, 1000-seed weight, and days to 50 % flowering, days to maturity, husk content ( %), volume weight (g/cc) and oil percentage and resistance/ tolerance to sunflower wilt. In the 1st year (2012-13), out of 150 sunflower hybrids, 13 nos. were superior hybrids were identified. The field observation reveals that the hybrid PSCHT-12-38 (2260 kg/ha, 36.0 % oil), PSCHT-12-42 (2250kg/ha, 37.5 % oil), PSCHT-12-26 (2217kg/ha, 37.7 %) and PSCHT-12-36 (2151 kg/ha, 37.9 % oil) were recorded higher seed yield as well as high oil content in comparison to the national check hybrids, KBSH-44 and DRSH-1. The field observation also reveals that the new experimental sunflower hybrids like PSCHT-12-42, SAHT-12-09, PSCHT-12-26, PSCHT-12-36, PSCHT-12-38, PSCHT-12-66, PSCHT-12-76 and PSCHT-12-29 were the superior sunflower hybrids for considerable high degree of tolerance to sunflower wilt (PDI score10-12.5 %) in comparison to the national check hybrids, KBSH-44 and DRSH-1 (PDI score 20-25 %). Considering the other yield attributing parameters like plant height, days to 50 % flowering or days to maturity, hull content and volume weight, the sunflower hybrids like PSCHT-12-38, PSCHT-12-42, PSCHT-12-26 and PSCHT-12-36 were observed the best performing sunflower hybrids due to their 7-10 days earliness and 30-50 cm shorter plant height at harvest coupled with good seed yield and oil yield as well as high degree of tolerance to sunflower wilt compare to other sunflower hybrids.