Combining Ability and Gene Action Studies in Diverse CMS Sources in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Ten diverse CMS lines and nine inbred lines were crossed in a line x tester fashion to elucidate the information on the combining ability for seed yield, yield components and oil content and also to know the nature of gene action involved in inheritance of important quantitative traits. A total of 90 crosses were evaluated for 12 different quantitative traits. Among the lines CMS E002-92 and CMS-AGR-6 exhibited significant gca effects for most of the characters studied and were found to be the best combiners. Likewise, inbreds R-27 Br and R-77-2III was the best combiner for seed yield per plant, volume weight, seed filling per cent, kernel per cent, hull per cent, KH ratio and oil content. The estimates of variance components revealed predominance of non-additive gene action for all characters studied.