Studies on relationship between oil yield and its components in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars

Correlation and path coefficient analyses were studied in three diverse genotypes of sunflower in order to understand the relationship and contribution on eight characters towards the oil yield. The oil yield exhibited highly significant and positive correlation with plant height, number of seeds/pod, seed yield and oil per cent. Step-wise regression analysis for oil yield as dependent variable designated that seed number per pod, 1000-seed weight and oil per cent accounted for 98.2% of variation existing in oil yield. Finally, path analysis revealed that the traits seed number per pod and 1000-seed weight had the highest and positive direct effect on oil yield. Therefore, selection for the highest amounts of these traits resulted in genetic improvement of oil yield. In conclusion, indirect selection for highest amounts of seed number per pod and 1000-seed weight and lowest amounts of days to end of flowering had higher genetic efficiency as compared with direct selection for oil yield.