GENE ACTION AND COMPARISON BETWEEN HALF DIALLEL ANALYSES METHODS UNDER SALINE SOIL STRESS CONDITIONS IN SUNFLOWER

Abstract

A half diallel cross between five parental sunflower genotypes was evaluated under two contrasting locations of Kafr El-Hamam and Tag Al-Ezz replications. Highly significant genotypes and their components mean squares Agricultural Research Stations using randomized complete block design with three were detected for all studied traits at both and cross locations. Variance of additive, non-additive and experimental error for all studied traits computed by Griffing (1956), Gardner and Eberhart (1966) and (Jones, 1965) was numerically identical; and it was confirmed by F. test. Whereas, Hayman’s analysis differed from the other analyses. Selection in early generations would be effective for improving days to 50 % flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, head diameter, No. of green leaves plant^-1 and seed oil content, but the remaining traits showed an opposite trend. The parent L₁₂₅ behaved as the best combiners for seed weight plant^-1 and one or more of its components. The cross L₄₆₀ χ L₃₃₅ was found to be superior and exhibited highest SCA effects and heterosis for seed weight/plant and one or more of its attributes.