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.