Genetic diversity analysis of high oleic inbred lines in sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Abstract

Sunflower hybrids with high oleic acid content have nutritional benefits similar to olive oil. High oleic sunflower hybrids can be obtained by using genetically divergent high oleic parental lines in heterosis breeding. The forty five parental lines with varying oleic acid content including inbred and cms lines were grouped into seven clusters by using Mahalanobis D2 statistics. Cluster I was found to be the largest with 32 genotypes followed by cluster VI comprising four genotypes, cluster II & VII with three genotypes and Cluster III, IV & V comprising one genotype each. From the ten characters studied Oleic acid content (53.23) contributed maximum to diversity followed by hundred seed weight (20.71). The genotypes within the cluster V and VII shows a maximum inter-cluster distance (56.00), where the restorer line (COSFHO24R) can crossed with the cms lines in Cluster VII to exploit high heterosis. Higher genetic divergence for oleic acid content was observed between the clusters III, IV, V & VI thereby the genotypes within the clusters can be used as a parent in hybridization programme to develop hybrids with good vigour for oleic acid content.