FACTOR ANALYSIS IN SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) TO INVESTIGATE DESIRABLE HYBRIDS

Thirty-seven sunflower hybrids were evaluated for 8 agronomic characters under field conditions to estimate genetic parameters, correlation coefficient, path analysis and principal components analysis. Analysis of variance and mean performance for yield and its components revealed significant differences among all the hybrids for all the characters indicating the diverse nature of hybrids. Days to flower initiation, completion and days to maturity had positive correlation with plant height. Head diameter had negative association with all the traits except 100 seed weight. Seed yield had negative correlation with oil contents that is suggested to break either through conventional or novel breeding techniques to breed high yielding hybrids with maximum oil contents. Positive direct effect was observed with days to maturity, plant height and head diameter, highest being by head diameter. Among 8 characters, 5 days to flower initiation, flower completion, days to maturity, plant height and oil contents contributed for PC1, whereas, 100-seed weight contributed to PC2 with populations possessing low oil contents. On the basis of these results, the best hybrids (LG 56-35 and LG 54-15) were grouped together in the upper test half and are suggested for general cultivation. The PCA could help for identification of the best hybrids although seed yield, 100 seed weight and head diameter did not contribute for PC1.