In-situ characterization of wild sesame species for agro-morphological traits in northern Ethiopia

Crop wild relatives are species can contribute valuable traits. The study characterized the morphological characteristics of wild sesame plants in their niche during 2018/19. Morphological characterization of 27 wild sesame executed. Data analysis was executed using R and Python programming languages. Seeds per locule, plant height, length of capsule bearing zone, height to the first capsule, leaf length showed non-significant (P < 0.05) differences while all the remaining traits showed significant (P < 0.05) differences. Number of branches, capsules and seeds per capsule ranged from 4–17, 150–640 and 80–136 respectively. The lowest number of capsules per plant (304) and lowest number of seeds per capsule (102) were observed in Mierab Armacho and Tegede while the highest number of capsules per plant (433) and highest number of seeds per capsule (128) were observed from Tahtay Adyabo. A strong positive correlation was observed between seeds per locule and seeds per capsule; capsule per plant and stem width; plant height and length of capsule bearing zone. The wild plants from hillsides outnumber the plants from crop farmlands and roadsides in branches per plant, capsule per plant, and seeds per capsule. The ideal habitat for wild sesame is the hillsides. The wild sesame plants outperform the Sesamum indicum under experimentations. Hence, these wild plants can be crucial sources to enhance the genetic base of Sesamum indicum.