Volume 17, Issue 3 (9-2025)
J Crop Breed 2025, 17(3): 147-158 |
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Ahmadi-Ochtapeh H, Ghaffari M, Gholizadeh A, Haghighi A. (2025). Analysis of Relationships between Traits and New Sunflower Hybrids using the GT Biplot Method under Dryland and Irrigated Conditions in Golestan Province. J Crop Breed. 17(3), 147-158. doi:10.61882/jcb.2024.1598
URL: http://jcb.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1598-en.html
URL: http://jcb.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1598-en.html
1- Department of Crop and Horticultural Science Research, Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Gorgan, Iran
2- Department of Oil Crops Research, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
3- Department of Plant Protection, Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Gorgan, Iran
2- Department of Oil Crops Research, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
3- Department of Plant Protection, Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Gorgan, Iran
Abstract: (399 Views)
Extended Abstract
Background: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is one of the most important sources of vegetable oil production that plays a pivotal role in food security, income, and livelihood of Iranian farmers. Currently, drought and the resulting stress are among the most common environmental stresses that lead to yield reduction, especially in dry and rainfed areas. Like most crops, sunflower productivity is significantly impacted by drought stress. Therefore, effective solutions are essential to mitigate drought stress. Given that sunflower hybrids are now cultivated as commercial varieties, it is crucial to produce superior hybrids with high seed and oil yields that are also tolerant to abiotic stress, considering climate change and aridity. The genotype-trait (GT) biplot analysis is a powerful statistical method that can identify correlations among traits by evaluating genotypes across multiple traits and identifying genotypes that excel in specific characteristics. This study employed the GT biplot method to explore the interrelationships between various traits and sunflower hybrids. The objectives of this research include identifying sunflower hybrids with desirable traits, investigating the relationships between traits, and categorizing hybrids based on traits studied using the GT biplot method.
Methods: Eighteen new sunflower hybrids, along with the Zarin hybrid as a control, were evaluated under both dryland and irrigated conditions. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications at the National Agricultural Research Station and Dryland Seed Production of Gonbad-e Kavous (in dryland conditions and winter cultivation in February) and the Agricultural Research Station in Gorgan (in irrigated conditions and spring cultivation in April) during the 2023-2024 cropping season. Each hybrid was planted in plots with three rows, 60 cm spacing between rows, and within-row spacing of 25 cm. Sunflower samples were planted manually in hills on flat beds in dryland conditions, while it was on ridges created by a furrower in irrigated conditions. Agronomic traits, including days to maturity, plant height, head height from the ground, head diameter, stem diameter, seed number per head, thousand-seed weight, and seed yield, were evaluated in the plants. The oil content of 30-g samples randomly selected from the seeds of each plot was measured in the oilseed laboratory of the Institute of Crop Improvement and Seed Production in Karaj. Subsequently, oil yield was calculated in kilograms per hectare. After obtaining the experimental data, the GGE biplot software was used for data analysis using the graphical GT biplot method with an appropriate statistical model.
Results: The GT biplot analysis explained a total of 78.3% of the standardized data diversity under dryland conditions (with the first and second principal components explaining 61.8% and 16.5%, respectively). Similarly, under irrigated conditions, the GT biplot explained 58.7% of the standardized data variation (with the first and second principal components explaining 39.4% and 19.3%, respectively). Overall, based on the polygonal representation of the GT biplot, hybrids numbered 4 and 16 excelled in dryland conditions, while hybrids numbered 2, 3, 4, and 16 performed well under irrigated conditions across most evaluated traits. The GT biplot analysis revealed that head diameter and stem diameter were positively correlated with seed yield under both dryland and irrigated conditions. Additionally, plant height was closest to the ideal trait in dryland conditions, while seed number per head exhibited the highest distinctiveness and representativeness under irrigation. The overall comparison using the GT biplot indicated that hybrids numbered 4, 16, 1, 10, and 2 were the most desirable across all evaluated traits under dryland conditions. Similarly, hybrids numbered 16, 4, and 10 stood out as the preferred hybrids based on the studied traits under irrigated conditions. Furthermore, hybrid number 3 (under dryland conditions) and hybrid number 11 (under irrigated conditions) were the least desirable hybrids compared to the ideal hybrid. The graphical analysis of hybrid stability revealed that hybrid number 16 was selected as the best and most stable hybrid for both dryland and irrigated conditions.
Conclusion: Breeding drought-tolerant sunflower varieties and hybrids with high yield potential is crucial to improve water resource limitations. Hybrids performing well in both dryland and irrigated conditions should be prioritized concerning seed and oil yield. Improving plant height and stem diameter in dryland conditions enhanced seed yield, while an improvement in the head diameter increased seed yield in irrigated conditions. Hybrids 4 and 16 performed favorably in both dryland and irrigated conditions, while hybrids 2 and 3 excelled under irrigated conditions in terms of seed and oil yields. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the GT biplot method in identifying various traits and selecting productive and stable hybrids.
Background: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is one of the most important sources of vegetable oil production that plays a pivotal role in food security, income, and livelihood of Iranian farmers. Currently, drought and the resulting stress are among the most common environmental stresses that lead to yield reduction, especially in dry and rainfed areas. Like most crops, sunflower productivity is significantly impacted by drought stress. Therefore, effective solutions are essential to mitigate drought stress. Given that sunflower hybrids are now cultivated as commercial varieties, it is crucial to produce superior hybrids with high seed and oil yields that are also tolerant to abiotic stress, considering climate change and aridity. The genotype-trait (GT) biplot analysis is a powerful statistical method that can identify correlations among traits by evaluating genotypes across multiple traits and identifying genotypes that excel in specific characteristics. This study employed the GT biplot method to explore the interrelationships between various traits and sunflower hybrids. The objectives of this research include identifying sunflower hybrids with desirable traits, investigating the relationships between traits, and categorizing hybrids based on traits studied using the GT biplot method.
Methods: Eighteen new sunflower hybrids, along with the Zarin hybrid as a control, were evaluated under both dryland and irrigated conditions. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications at the National Agricultural Research Station and Dryland Seed Production of Gonbad-e Kavous (in dryland conditions and winter cultivation in February) and the Agricultural Research Station in Gorgan (in irrigated conditions and spring cultivation in April) during the 2023-2024 cropping season. Each hybrid was planted in plots with three rows, 60 cm spacing between rows, and within-row spacing of 25 cm. Sunflower samples were planted manually in hills on flat beds in dryland conditions, while it was on ridges created by a furrower in irrigated conditions. Agronomic traits, including days to maturity, plant height, head height from the ground, head diameter, stem diameter, seed number per head, thousand-seed weight, and seed yield, were evaluated in the plants. The oil content of 30-g samples randomly selected from the seeds of each plot was measured in the oilseed laboratory of the Institute of Crop Improvement and Seed Production in Karaj. Subsequently, oil yield was calculated in kilograms per hectare. After obtaining the experimental data, the GGE biplot software was used for data analysis using the graphical GT biplot method with an appropriate statistical model.
Results: The GT biplot analysis explained a total of 78.3% of the standardized data diversity under dryland conditions (with the first and second principal components explaining 61.8% and 16.5%, respectively). Similarly, under irrigated conditions, the GT biplot explained 58.7% of the standardized data variation (with the first and second principal components explaining 39.4% and 19.3%, respectively). Overall, based on the polygonal representation of the GT biplot, hybrids numbered 4 and 16 excelled in dryland conditions, while hybrids numbered 2, 3, 4, and 16 performed well under irrigated conditions across most evaluated traits. The GT biplot analysis revealed that head diameter and stem diameter were positively correlated with seed yield under both dryland and irrigated conditions. Additionally, plant height was closest to the ideal trait in dryland conditions, while seed number per head exhibited the highest distinctiveness and representativeness under irrigation. The overall comparison using the GT biplot indicated that hybrids numbered 4, 16, 1, 10, and 2 were the most desirable across all evaluated traits under dryland conditions. Similarly, hybrids numbered 16, 4, and 10 stood out as the preferred hybrids based on the studied traits under irrigated conditions. Furthermore, hybrid number 3 (under dryland conditions) and hybrid number 11 (under irrigated conditions) were the least desirable hybrids compared to the ideal hybrid. The graphical analysis of hybrid stability revealed that hybrid number 16 was selected as the best and most stable hybrid for both dryland and irrigated conditions.
Conclusion: Breeding drought-tolerant sunflower varieties and hybrids with high yield potential is crucial to improve water resource limitations. Hybrids performing well in both dryland and irrigated conditions should be prioritized concerning seed and oil yield. Improving plant height and stem diameter in dryland conditions enhanced seed yield, while an improvement in the head diameter increased seed yield in irrigated conditions. Hybrids 4 and 16 performed favorably in both dryland and irrigated conditions, while hybrids 2 and 3 excelled under irrigated conditions in terms of seed and oil yields. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the GT biplot method in identifying various traits and selecting productive and stable hybrids.
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