Genetic analysis for fatty acids across environments in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

A line x tester set of 44 F₁’s involving four CMS lines and eleven inbred lines was raised in a complete randomized block design with three replications over four environments to estimate combining ability and its interaction with environments for fatty acids in the seed oil during spring 2003. The analysis of variance of the experimental design for pooled data over environments indicated that parents and hybrids differed significantly. Significant parents vs hybrids x environment interaction indicated that heterotic effects varied with change in environment. The same was found true for combining ability effects as depicted in the analysis of variance for combining ability. The Combining ability analysis indicated that non additive gene effects were predominant in the inheritance of oleic acid and linoleic acid. The good combiner parents and good crosses were identified.