Genotype × environment interaction and stability of high oleic sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) hybrids across temperature regimes

Abstract

Sunflower cultivation in India faces challenges related to environmental variability, particularly in the choice of hybrid varieties for different regions and seasons. This study focuses on the development and stability evaluation of high-oleic sunflower hybrids, emphasizing oleic acid content, which is associated with health benefits. Thirty high-oleic hybrids along with four check hybrids were tested across multiple locations and seasons in Karnataka, India. Analysis of variance using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model revealed significant genotype × environment interactions, highlighting the variability in hybrid performance. Promising high-oleic hybrids were identified based on stability across locations and seasons. Interestingly, some hybrids exhibited high oleic acid content during the rabi/summer season but not during the rabi season, indicating sensitivity to temperature changes. Furthermore, the study explored the influence of climatic variables, confirming that temperature as key factor affecting the oleic acid content. The results emphasized the importance of the rabi/summer season for high-oleic sunflower cultivation in India. These findings provide valuable insights for sunflower breeding programs, enabling the development of stable and adaptable high-oleic sunflower hybrids that meet India’s agricultural and nutritional demands.