Evaluation of Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.) Genotypes for Economically Important Traits through Correlation and Regression Analyses

Abstract

The study was conducted during the Rabi season of 2023 at the experimental area of the Oilseeds Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Tandojam, to evaluate sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) genotypes for economically important traits using correlation and regression analyses. The results revealed significant differences among genotypes for days to 75% flowering, days to 90% maturity, head diameter (cm), stem girth (cm), seed index (1000-seed weight, g), and seed yield plant⁻¹ (g), whereas plant height (cm) and oil content (%) showed non-significant differences. Genotype HO-1 recorded the maximum days to 75% flowering (91.71), while YK-A91 exhibited the minimum (60.43). Similarly, HO-1 showed the maximum days to 90% maturity (99.33), whereas YK-A221 recorded the minimum (91.26). Genotype HO-1 produced the maximum plant height (167.11 cm), while SK-ED9 recorded the minimum (133.12 cm). HO-1 also exhibited the maximum head diameter (27.20 cm), whereas LD-1003 recorded the minimum (6.86 cm). YK-A224 produced the maximum stem girth (20.40 cm), while HO-1 showed the minimum (8.73 cm). Genotype HO-1 recorded the highest seed index (126.36 g), whereas YK-A91 exhibited the lowest (5.19 g). The maximum seed yield plant⁻¹ (132.66 g) was recorded in HO-1, while the minimum (36.47 g) was observed in SK-ED9. For oil content, HO-1 recorded the maximum value (40.88%), whereas LD-1003 showed the minimum (26.71%). Correlation analysis revealed that days to 75% flowering had a positive and significant correlation with days to 90% maturity (r = 0.6546**), head diameter (r = 0.7882**), seed index (r = 0.9353**), seed yield plant⁻¹ (r = 0.9062**), and oil content (r = 0.5257**), but exhibited a negative and significant correlation with stem girth (r = −0.8652**). However, its correlation with plant height was positive but non-significant (r = 0.4189NS). Days to 90% maturity showed positive and significant correlations with head diameter (r = 0.5350*), seed index (r = 0.7533**), and seed yield plant⁻¹ (r = 0.7571**). Plant height exhibited positive but non-significant correlations with head diameter (r = 0.1476NS), seed index (r = 0.3693NS), and seed yield plant⁻¹ (r = 0.2955NS). Head diameter showed positive and significant correlations with seed index (r = 0.8245**), seed yield plant⁻¹ (r = 0.8800**), and oil content (r = 0.8715**). Stem girth exhibited negative and significant correlations with seed index (r = −0.9302**) and seed yield plant⁻¹ (r = −0.8750**). Seed index had positive and significant correlations with seed yield plant⁻¹ (r = 0.9734**) and oil content (r = 0.6177*), while seed yield plant⁻¹ was positively and significantly correlated with oil content (r = 0.7007**).