USE OF GROWTH ANALYSIS TO EVALUATE GENETIC MECHANISMS AFFECTING ACHENE YIELD FORMATION OF SUNFLOWER

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the process of dry matter accumulation (DMA) in achenes during the grain-filling period of fifty sunflower genotypes by using the functional method of growth analysis in a field trial at Bicsérd, Hungary. The Hunt-formula of lnY= P0 + P1*X + P2*X2 was fitted to data. Maximum yield (Ymax), the average of the absolute growth rate (AGRavg), maximum growth rate (AGRmax), date of the maximum growth rate (Xagrmax), and the average of the relative growth rate (RGRavg) were calculated from growth curves for hybrids and replications. Significant differences among hybrids and their interaction with sampling dates indicate hybrid differences in the intensity of DMA accumulation. The strongest correlation was observed between the parameters of Ymax and AGRmax.

Keywords

• sunflower
• dry matter
• growth analysis