Impact of three water deficit treatments in vegetative, flowering and grain filling stages along with optimum irrigation as control were evaluated on grain yield and agronomic characteristics of 8 sunflower cultivars (Hysun 33, Hysun 25, Farrokh, Record, Aravirski, Lakumka, Master and SHF 81-90) as a strip plot design with three replications in Khoy Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station. Different water regimes had significant effect on growth period, plant height, stem and head diameter, seed yield and its component. Stem diameter, plant height and seed number per head were affected considerably by drought stress in vegetative stage, while head diameter by drought stress in flowering stage and growth period and seed weight by water deficit in seed filling stage. Water deficit in flowering and vegetative stages had the highest (38%) and lowest (25%) negative effect on grain yield, respectively, so flowering stage and vegetative stage established as the most sensitive and tolerant stages to water deficit, respectively. Farrokh hybrid with highest seed yield in different irrigation treatments (3686, 2856, 2256 and 2506 Kg/ha in control and water deficit in vegetative, flowering and grain filling stages, respectively) revealed as the most drought tolerant cultivator while Hysun33 lowest seed yield showed maximum drought sensitive.
ghaffari M. Impact of water deficit in different growth stages on agronomic performance of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). 3 2014; 1 (1) :1-13 URL: http://yujs.yu.ac.ir/jopp/article-1-25-en.html