Evaluation of grain yield and agronomical characteristics of new sunflower hybrids under normal and drought stress conditions

This research was conducted to identify the most tolerant new sunflower hybrids to drought stress and to evaluate drought stress effect on yield and yield components, using RCBD with three replications under normal irrigation and elimination of irrigation from flowering stage onward at Islam Abad-e- Gharb Research Station during 2014-2015 growing season. In this study, 11 new sunflower hybrids were evaluated. The results showed that drought stress significantly decreased grain yield, plant height, head diameter, 1000-seed weight, seed per head and days to physiological maturity. Among evaluated traits, grain yield followed by 1000-seed weight and seeds per head were affected more than other traits by drought stress. RF81-131/1*AF81-222 produced the highest grain yield under normal condition with 5815 kgha-1 followed by Barzegar and Hysun33 with 5513 and 4922 kg ha-1, respectively. Under drought stress, RF81-131/1*AF81-222, Azargol, Hysun33 and Barzegar had the highest grain yield with 4201, 3750, 3554 and 3524 kg ha-1, respectively. Based on the results, RF81-131/1*AF81-222, Barzegar and Hysun33 were suitable for both normal and drought stress conditions, hence it could be recommended to farmers and Azargol was one of the suitable hybrids for drought stress conditions.