Shift in Character Association under Different Water Stress Environments in Sunflower {Helianthus annuus L.)

摘要

The present investigations were undertaken to find out association among tine economically important characters in different moisture regimes. Under normal irrigation level, seed yield exhibited significant positive correlation with 100-seed weight, early vigour and photosynthetic capacity, however, its association with canopy temperature was significantly negative. The significant positive association of seed yield with 1 GO seed weight, leaf water potential, plant height and head diameter was observed in second water stress environment. In third water stress environment, seed yield had significant positive correlation with early vigour, canopy temperature, head diameter and 100-seed weight but a significant negative correlation with leaf area index and number of days to maturity. In fourth stress condition, seed yield was found to have significant positive association with head diameter, 100 seed weight and leaf water potential. This indicated a shift in correlations under changing water stress environments. The study revealed that while selecting for high seed yield under different water stress conditions, the selection criteria should be based on the changing correlations among different characters, under different stress environments.