Vol. 8, Issue 12 (2019)

Author(s):
Iqbal Ahmed and VL Gawande

Abstract:
The present investigation was undertaken with a view of identification of the putative restorers in safflower for the exploitation of high yielding hybrids. In cross combinations two cytoplasmic male sterile lines were tested with fifteen restorers in line x tester mating design. Restorers GMU-2952, GMU-3420 and GMU- 3715, exhibited high fertility restoration ability and per cent pollen fertility and could be incorporated in the hybridization programme for the development of high yielding safflower hybrids. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation for the number of flowers with normal type opening was 12.72 and 13.77, for character number of flowers with good anther dehiscence estimated as 12.54 and 14.06 and for the per cent pollen fertility was 10.95 and 11.60, respectively. These three traits used for the present study showed high heritability. Genetic components indicated the predominant role of the genotype of parents for governing the traits studied. Therefore, from the present experimental investigation it was inferred that, the three traits studied were found stable in performance due to minor role of environment in its expression.