Agrotechnology

Morphological and pollen viability studies in interspecific hybrids between cultivated and perennial diploid wild sunflower species (Helianthus annuus L.)

2^nd International Conference on Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Hyderabad, India February 03-05, 2014

Y Prashanth

Accepted Abstracts: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

The present investigation was undertaken with a view to study pollen viability morphological behavior of F 1 interspecific hybrids of diploid wild perennial species Helianthus maximilini and Helianthus occidentalis with normal cultivated sunflower Helianthus annuus prebred line M-106. The two interspecific hybrids (M-106 MAX 1631, M-106 OCC 52) have annual life cycle with the diploid somatic chromosome number 2n=34. The performance of the hybrids was either superior or nearer to their cultivated parent in respect of plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, stem diameter, number of filled seed/head, number of unfilled seed/head, head diameter, seed yield/plant, test weight, oil content, oil yield. While the two hybrid combinations recorded more seed yield as compared to their cultivated parent, but percentage of seed set of the two hybrids is low compared to parent, the existence of negative correlation of pollen fertility could explain low seed set. Pollen viability of two interspecific hybrids was recorded low comparative to their parents 32.4% in M-106 OCC 52 and 35.9% in M-106 MAX 1631. These results showed that species Helianthus maximiliani and Helianthus occidentalis possess some important agronomic characters which were already transferred or could be transferred to sunflower in the process of hybridization between the two diploid wild with cultivated species. As due to these processes, narrow genetic base of the cultivated sunflower gets broadened with the infusion of genes from wild species. This study indicates the possibility of improving hybrid performance through further back cross breeding and selection process.