Genetic analysis for seed yield and its traits in summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) over environments

Abstract

A study was undertaken to evaluate the magnitude of combining ability variance and effects of four females as testers and ten males as lines and forty crosses in sesame for seed yield and component traits over environments. The F1s along with parents were evaluated in RBD with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, J.A.U., Amreli and Deptt. Seed Science and Technology, Sagadividi Farm, J.A.U., Junagadh, Gujarat. The analysis of variance for combining ability revealed that the variances due to lines, testers and lines x testers were significant for all the characters over environments (except variance due to lines for days to flowering, 1000-seed weigh and seed yield per plant which indicated the importance of both additive and non-additive types of gene action. Parents AT-285, G.Til-1, RT-54, AT-265, AT-306, AT-341 and G.Til-10 offered the best possibilities for exploitation in the development of improved lines with enhanced yielding ability. It is suggested that population involving these parents in a multiple crossing programme may be developed for isolating desirable recombinants. The hybrids Khadkala-S x G.Til-1, AT-307 x AT-285, AT-322 x AT-285, AT-319 x G.Til-10 and AT-341 x G.Til-10 were high yielding and heterotic along with desirable sca effect for seed yield per plant over environments. These could profitably be exploited through heterosis breeding for general cultivation in order to increase the yield potentiality in sesame.