Estimation of combining ability studies in sunflower (helianthus annuus l.)

Combining ability studies were made in sunflower using line x tester analysis with four diverse CMS lines and four tester. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference among genotype i.e., parents and hybrids. The estimation of Specific Combining Ability (SCA) variance was higher than General Combining Ability (GCA) variance, for all the characters except head diameters which indicate non additive gene action had more effect. The parents CMS-850 A, CMS-234 A and R-363 can be considered as superior parents with respect to seed yield and oil content. The crosses CMS-850 A x R-363 and CMS-89-1A x R-351 can be considered as the most promising crosses since they observed high per se performance and significant gca and sca effect for major characters.