Correlation of yield components and seed yield per plant in sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Abstract

Studied in this paper was the interdependence of six morphophysiological sunflower traits (petiole angle, petiole length, total leaf number per plant, total leaf area per plant, plant height and head diameter) and their correlations with seed yield per plant. Path coefficient analysis was used to gain information on direct and indirect effects of the above characters on seed yield per plant. For most of the traits significant and highly significant correlations were found in the F1 and F2 generations. Plant height and total leaf area per plant had a high positive direct effect on seed yield per plant, while petiole angle and total leaf number per plant had a negative direct effect on the same trait in both generations. Petiole length had a positive and head diameter a negative direct effect on seed yield per plant in the F1 generation, whereas in the F2 generation the two traits behaved the opposite. Path coefficient analysis indicated that plant height, total leaf area, and petiole length were the most important traits for seed yield per plant. Based on the coefficient of determination for the F1 and F2 generations (R2=0.73), it can be concluded that the influence of traits from the study on total variability of seed yield per plant was 73%, while the remaining 27% can be attributed to factors not included in the study.