Genetic Variability and Interrelationships of Some Traits in Six Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Genotypes under Rainfed Conditions

Abstract

The objectives of this study was to estimate the genetic variability and association between yield and its components in six sesame genotypes widely grown in North Kordofan under rainfed conditions. The genotypes showed highly significant variation in agronomic performance for all of the studied traits except of plant height. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all studied traits. High PCV and GCV were recorded for biological yield and seed yield. High heritability (in a broad sense) was obtained for 1000 seed weight and the number of seeds per capsule. The highest genetic advanced (GA) was exhibited by biological yield and seed yield. High genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM %) was recorded for a thousand seed weight and number of branches per plant. High heritability coupled with genetic advance as a percentage of the means was registered by thousand seed weight, number of branches per plant and harvest index. Number of capsules per plant showed significant negative genotypic and phenotypic correlations with a thousand seed weight indicating selection of one trait will be accompanied by low performance of the other. Highly significant positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations were revealed by the association of plant populations with a thousand seed weight, number of seed per capsule with harvest index, and thousand seeds weight with biological yield. Therefore, selection based on these traits would be effective in future sesame yield under rain fed conditions.