Evaluation of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Lines Under Salt Stress for Yield Using SSR Markers

Abstract

Salinity has undesirable effects on sesame yield. In order to reduce salt's harmful effects, sesame tolerance needs to be increased. Twenty-three lines of sesame were irrigated with saline water (70 and 90 mM NaCl) and evaluated based on seed yield over two seasons (2019–2020). Genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Ten SSR molecular markers were used to evaluate these lines for salt tolerance. Genotypes showed significant differences (p <0.05) and recorded a wide range of seed yields under optimum and salinity conditions. Four lines (C1.5, C2.2, C8.4, and C9.15) achieved the highest average performance for seed yield compared to other lines under salinity conditions. Ten SSR markers revealed 15 alleles, ranging from 1 to 4 alleles. The polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.00 to 0.44. The range of expected heterozygosity (He) was 0.00 to 0.444. The UPGMA dendrogram analysis divided all sesame genotypes into two main clusters. In addition, SSR 3 and SSR 6 markers elucidated the possibility of using them in breeding programs for enhancing salt tolerances in sesame cultivars. These lines may be used as a salt-tolerant source in future breeding to create new sesame cultivars.