Investigation on Line x Tester analysis in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

Line x Tester analysis in sesame using four lines and three testers was carried out to study the heterosis and combing ability for yield and yield components viz., days to maturity, plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of capsules on the main axis, number of capsules per plant, length of capsule, number of seeds per capsule, 1000-seed weight and seed yield per plant. The variances due to crosses, lines, testers and line x tester were significant for all the characters except plant height and number of seeds per capsule for lines, number of seeds per capsule for testers and seed yield per plant for F1s. The significant variances due to lines, testers and line x tester showed the involvement of both additive and non-additive gene actions in controlling the traits. General and specific combining ability (gca and sca) variances showed major contribution of additive gene action for all the nine characters studied except number of seeds per capsule. Lines DS-10 and PKVNT-11 were good general combiners for most of the characters including seed yield per plant. Highest magnitude of standard heterosis was recorded in the cross DS-10 x DS-5. Other promising crosses for high yield were DS-10 x RT-351, SVPR-1 x RT-351, PKVNT-11 x DS-5 and AKT-101 x GT-3 on the basis ofsca effect. Heterosis and per se performance may be used to select superior heterotic crosses for exploitation of hybrid vigour in sesame.