Genotype × season interaction and characters association of some Sesame (sesamum indicum L.) genotypes under rain-fed conditions of Sudan

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at Gedarif Agricultural Research Station Sudan, during the rainy seasons 08/09 and 09/2010, to estimate the genotype x season interaction and to asses the characters association for seven sesame genotypes. A randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. The parameters were days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of capsules/plant, seed yield/plant (g) and seed yield/ ha (Kg). All characters showed highly significant differences at the genotypic level, the days to 50% flowering and to maturity revealed significant differences at both seasons and the G × S interaction levels, whereas the seed yield / plant showed significant differences at the season level .Gedaref -1 out yielded the overall mean by 26.15%. In both seasons, the seed yield (kg/ha) was significantly and positively correlated with days to maturity, plant height, number of capsule/plant, seed yield/plant at both the genotypic and the phenotypic levels. From this study: to improve seed yield in sesame, emphasis should be made on selection tallest plants with more capsules and high yielder genotypes. Key words: G x S interaction, correlation coefficients, characters, sesame genotypes.