Shattering losses of sunflower seeds depending on the morphometric traits of plants of the parental lines and their hybrids

The influence of some morphometric traits of sunflower on seeds shattering losses as well as the influence of seeds parameters (seed quantity in a head and 1000 seeds weight) on seeds shattering losses during industrial maturity were studied. The results did not show the high correlation between seed shattering losses and the morphometric traits: diameter and thickness of a head, plant height. The weak positive correlation between seed shattering losses and seeds weight of female lines and interline hybrids was ascertained. The negative correlation between these traits in male parental lines was observed. The studying of interrelations between seeds shattering losses and seed quantity in a head showed that correlations were weak negative in female and male lines and from weak positive in 2010 to heavy negative in 2009 in interline hybrids. Correlation dependence between seeds parameters (length, width and thickness) and seeds shattering losses in female sunflower lines was also studied. The results showed that a weak positive relation only between seed thickness and seed shattering losses during three years was observed. Both a weak positive and a weak negative correlation, depending on a year, between length and width of seeds and seeds shattering losses were observed. The male lines showed a negative correlation between shattering losses and seed parameters, and on width of seeds both a middle one and high negative correlations were revealed. In average for three years, a positive correlation between seed parameters and shattering losses on hybrids having larger seeds in comparison with seeds of lines was recorded. Our results allowed to conclude that the seeds shattering losses depend not only on weather conditions but also on seeds genetic features. The most promising for development of nonshattering hybrids appeared to be lines: SL01 3828; VK 863 and VA 330 of female lines, and VK 580, RHA 398 and XF 4919 of male lines.