LINE × TESTER ANALYSIS IN SESAME (SESAMUM INDICUM L.)

Abstract

A line x tester analysis in sesame was carried out with ten lines and four testers. Studies revealed the preponderance of non-additive gene action for days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of effective branches, number of capsules/plant, number of seed/capsule, capsule length and additive gene action for 1000- seed weight and seed yield/plant. Three parents, ES-274, SSM and TILAK were good general combiner for earliness and parents namely, G Til-3, GTI-4, BHACAU 1 and VRI (SV) 1 were good general combiner for seed yield per plant. Eight hybrids had superior per se performance for seed yield, its component characters and earliness. With regard to seed yield, three hybrids had both the parent as desirable combiner. Crosses involving VRI (SV) 1 as line performed batter with all the testers under study indicating that this genotype can be utilized in future breeding programmes. The crosses, BHACAU-7 x G.T.4, VRI(SV)1 x G.T.1, VRI(SV)1 x G.T.2, VRI(SV)1 x G.T.3 and VRI(SV)1 x G.T.4 recorded significant sca effects and the gene action might be of additive type of epistasis. In future, these crosses can be utilized for pedigree breeding programme. However, selection should be postponed to later generation due to the presence of additive type of epistatic gene action. For breakdown of linkages and epistasis present in yield related traits and seed yield per plant can be broken by using biparental matting.