Agronomic attributes and stability of exotic sunflower hybrids in Iran

Abstract

Abstract In order to identifying of high yielding compatible sunflower hybrids for different regions of Iran, a set of 10 exotic hybrids from Serbia, Turkey, and Italy and four Iranian hybrids were evaluated for agronomic traits; days to flowering and maturity, plant height, head and stem diameter, 1000-achenes weight, achene number per head, oil content and achene, and oil yield. The experiments were conducted as completely randomized block design with four replications in Alborz, Mazandaran, Khuzestan, and West Azerbaijan Provinces for two years (2017–2018). According to the results growing period of the hybrids were variable from 86 days for Dukat to 98 days for Fantaziya. The hybrids Slatki and Dukat had the highest (70 g) and lowest (56 g) 1000-achenes weight. The highest oil content was observed in 08TR003 (45.6%). Among the locations, Miandoab had the highest achene yield (3110 kg/ha). In Sari; the hybrids Barzegar, Fantaziya, and Slatki (3080, 2893, and 2853 kg/ha respectively), In Dezful; Barzegar, Cartago, and Oscar (3234, 3409, and 3226 kg/ha respectively), in Karaj; Oscar, Shams, and Fantaziya (3138, 3081, and 3050 kg/ha respectively), and in Miandob Shams, Fantaziya, and Slatki (4093, 4038, and 3895 kg/ha respectively) had the highest achene yield. Considering overall mean Fantaziya, Shams, and Oskar had the highest achene yield (3286, 3145, and 3087 kg/ha respectively), as well as Fantaziya followed by Barzegar and Shams had the highest oil yield (1396, 1335, and 1330 kg/ha respectively). Considering phenotypic variability among the exotic hybrids Fantaziya, Oskar, Slatki, Novak, 08TR003, and Meteor with lower coefficient of variation and higher achene yield considered as the stable higher yielding hybrids in four test locations of Iran. Through identifying high-yielding and compatible hybrids, the results of this study can assists in increasing of sunflower yield and production in Iran.