International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 2(2), pp. 054-059, February 2013 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2013 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Variability of yield and some morphological traits in some sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes under rain-fed conditions

Salah B. M. Ahmed¹* and Abubakri F. Ahmed²

¹Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Gedarif, P. O Box 449, Gedarif, Sudan.

²Gedarif Agricultural Research Station, Gedarif, Sudan.

*Corresponding author. E. mail: salahballa72@yahoo.com.

Accepted 9 February, 2013

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at Gedarif Agricultural Research Station, Sudan, for two consecutive rainy seasons (2009 and 2010) to estimate the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, heritability in broad sense, genetic advance and genetic advance as percentage of the mean for yield and other growth attributes in 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 (kg/ha). A wide range of variability was detected among the genotypes for all characters in both seasons. The earliest maturing genotype combined over two seasons (77.00 days) was SPS2003T10 whereas the latest one (87.10 days) was Gedarif -1. The lowest yielder genotype (361.00 Kg/ha) was Ziraa-9 whereas the highest yielder (591 Kg/ha) was Gedaref-1 which out-yielded the overall mean yield by 28.43% in the first season and by 23.88% in the second season. High heritability coupled with low genetic advance was recorded for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and plant height which indicate dominant and epistatic gene action while low to moderate heritability with high genetic advance was recorded for the yield and its components which indicate the additive nature of inheritance. Therefore, direct simple selection may improve the morphological traits of the crop, whereas, other mechanisms may be needed to improve the seed yield and its components.

Key words: Sesame, genotypes, phenotypic, variability, heritability, genetic advance.