Environmental Effects on Seed Characteristics of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Sunflower hybrid PARC-92E seed lots produced at Gider, Panjpai, Chilas, Fateh Jang and Dera Ismail Khan were compared for seed quality. 100-seed weight ranged from 5.38 to 7.29 g, oil content from 33.76 to 42.53%, hull–kernel ratio from 0.380 to 0.587, seed–kernel ratio from 1.64 to 2.62, germination potential from 97.50 to 100 %, germination rate index from 11.18 to 20.58, germination index from 13.45 to 17.92, emergence rate index from 51.61 to 145.40, and emergence from 57.96 to 84.82. 100-seed weight had a positive relationship with all the other parameters except oil percentage (−0.087). Seed size was found to be more important than oil content for field emergence of sunflower.