Determination of yield and quality traits of sunflower breeding genotypes candidate for regi̇strati̇on

This research was conducted in 2023 under the ecological conditions of Edirne with the aim of determining the morphological characteristics, yield, and quality performance of sunflower genotypes obtained in 2022 using cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) and restorer lines. Due to the limited amount of seeds, the trial was established using an augmented experimental design with 4 blocks and 15 rows in each block. The study utilized intermediate-stage breeding materials obtained from R&D projects of TÜBİTAK and TAGEM, conducted by Beta Trade Co., one of Turkey's first seed companies. A total of 40 number of hybrids were developed by crossing 17 CMS lines and 38 restorer lines of different development stages obtained from the 2022 crosses. Additionally, five commercial hybrids (P64LP130, TR2242, P63MM54, LG5485, and LG50521) adapted to regional ecological conditions were used as controls. The study evaluated the following traits: days to 50% flowering, seed setting in the head center, plant height (cm), head diameter (cm), stem diameter (cm), thousand seed weight (g), seed yield (kg/da), oil content (%), and oil yield (kg/da). Furthermore, heterosis and heterobeltiosis values of the F1 hybrid plants were calculated. According to the results, the hybrids exhibited the following ranges: days to 50% flowering: 56–63 days, seed setting in the head center: 2–4, plant height: 128.67–184.33 cm, head diameter: 10.67–22 cm, stem diameter: 15.33–32 cm, thousand seed weight: 35.02–79.15 g, seed yield: 89.90–459.26 kg/da, oil content: 34.69–45.31%, and oil yield: 37.31–189.90 kg/da. The observed heterosis values ranged between 2.96% and 59.87% for plant height, -28.89% and 100% for head diameter, -40.26% and 42.61% for stem diameter, -24.40% and 77.13% for thousand seed weight, -14.23% and 595.26% for seed yield, -7.69% and 13.42% for oil content, and -18.85% and 567.96% for oil yield. Heterobeltiosis values were found to range between -8.96% and 51.27% for plant height, -31.91% and 93.94% for head diameter, -43.21% and 34.43% for stem diameter, -42.2% and 53.93% for thousand seed weight, -34.19% and 463.85% for seed yield, -16.02% and 9.71% for oil content, and -32.69% and 314.87% for oil yield. Based on observations, analyses, and calculations, hybrids with superior yield and quality characteristics compared to control cultivars were selected for macro-yield trials. Additionally, through the calculation of heterosis and heterobeltiosis values, superior parental lines were identified for the creation of new combinations.