Genetic variability and principal component analysis of sesame genotypes using morphological traits

Sesame is one major oilseed crop cultivated in India. The demand for the sesame oil is increasing but the productivity of sesame in India is around 537 kg/ha. Selection based on the yield along with the other yield component traits is essential by studying of character association to assess the relationship among yield and its components characters for selection while developing new varieties. The present study was conducted to access the variability and relationship between the yield and its component characters in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The experiment was laid out with 26 advance lines along with checks in Regional Research Station, Vriddhachalam during the Kharif 2023 season and evaluated in two replications in Randomized Complete Block Design. The high Genotypic Co-efficient of Variation (GCV) was noticed for number of branches per plant (19.9 %), number of capsules per plant (11.3) and seed yield (16.4). High heritability along with high genetic advance was recorded for seed yield per plant, number of branches per plant and number of capsules per plant indicating prime role of additive genetic components for the expression and indicating better scope of use of direct selection for those traits. The trait Number of capsules per plant showed positive correlation (0.148) with seed yield. Number of capsules per plant showed positive direct effects on seed yield while days to maturity showed negative direct effects. In the Principal component analysis PC1, PC2 and PC3 explained cumulative variance of 68.44 %.