Article

An investigation entitled “Genetic Variability and Heritability Studies in Ornamental Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)” was conducted at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, College of Horticulture, Bengaluru. Twenty-three ornamental sunflower genotypes were evaluated with three replications using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The study revealed considerable variability among the 23 genotypes with respect to vegetative, floral, and flower yield parameters. Flower stalk girth recorded the highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) at 39.03%, followed by leaf area at 60 days after sowing (37.54%), total flower heads per plant (30.88%), and vase life (28.89%). The highest phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was observed for flower stalk girth (39.06%), followed by leaf area (37.54%), plant height (29.49%), and vase life (29.38%). The presence of high GCV and PCV values indicated substantial variability within the germplasm, providing a strong base for effective selection. High heritability estimates (>60%) were recorded for all studied parameters. Furthermore, the expected genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (>20%) was high for flower stalk girth, plant height at 60 DAS, total flower heads per plant, vase life, and flower stalk length, the research highlighted significant variability among ornamental sunflower genotypes, with clear indications of both heritable and non-heritable components. These findings suggest that the identified traits can be effectively utilized for selecting superior parents in future sunflower breeding programmes.