Author(s):
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oilseed crop. It is grown for vegetable and industrial oils in the world. Sunflower oil is considered to be of supreme quality. The Production, productivity and area coverage of sunflower in Ethiopia is low and below the world average due to lack of improved varieties and biotic and a biotic constraint. Sunflower can contribute a big share in improving local edible oil production due to its short interval for maturity, high oil contents, better fitting in the cropping pattern, tolerance to drought and its high yield potential. Therefore, this research was conducted to quantify genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance as percent of mean (GAM). A total of 220 genotypes including checks varieties were evaluated in 2020/21 main cropping season at Holeta Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. Alpha lattice design was used with two replications and eleven blocks were nested within a replication. Experimental results showed highly significant difference for seed yield and yield attributing traits except stem diameter among genotypes. High phenotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for all the characters studied except days to flowering, days to maturity and seed filling percentage. High genotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for hundred seed weight, yield per plot, yield per hectare, oil yield per hectare, seed number per plant head, yield per plant head and stand percentage. The highest broad sense heritability (H2) was recorded for seed number per plant head and the least was for stem diameter. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for seed yield per plot, yield per hectare, oil yield, seed number per plant head and yield per plant head. Therefore, hybridization and selection on these genotypes for a desired traits with high heritability coupled with higher GCV and GAM will be effective to develop superior sunflower variety
