SUMMARY

and two hybrids, TCSH 1 and KBSH 44, were selected for this study. Simple correlation coefficients were estimated among characters for individual varie-ties and hybrids. Two traits, seed yield and 100-seed weight, are important selection indices for oil yield improvement in both varieties and hybrids. Head weight can be considered as a selection index for improvement of seed and oil yield in hybrids only. Likewise, oil content is an important selection index for oil yield improvement in varieties. It can also be inferred that the results obtained from the association analysis of pooled data for varieties and hybrids will give ambiguous results and have a negative impact on the yield improve-ment program. Thus it is desirable to compute separate association analyses for each variety and hybrid to identify effective selection indices for the improvement of sunflower. Key words: sunflower, correlation, varieties and hybrids, selection inde