Evaluation of Parents for Seed Yield and Its Components in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract: Combining ability for seed yield and its component characters was studied in sesame by using line x tester mating design. The experimental material included eight lines, four testers and 32 hybrids obtained by crossing eight lines with each of the four testers. The analysis of variance for all the nine characters under study was highly significant which specified wide variability amid parents and hybrids for these traits. The greater degree of SCA variance than GCA variance indicated the role of non-additive genes meant for all the nine characters studied. DORG 37-11, CT-51 and IC 129908 among lines and Phule Til-1 as well as RT-125 among testers were found to be good general combiners for seed yield per plant. Seed yield per plant was maximum for CT-50(14.26 g) among lines and RT-125(14.52g) among testers. Selection of parents based on per se performance as well as gca effects together showed that the parent IC 129908 can be adjudged as the best parent and can be included in further breeding programmes.