Genetic architecture for yield and yield components in sesamum

A study was conducted in sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.) to assess the extent of the heterosis and combining ability for eleven quantitative traits including seed yield per plant using 10 lines viz., ES-246, AT-24, SPS-19, BAVJ-1, TNAU-2, Kalyanpur-2, Mota Liliya-1, Ingorola-7, SI-968 and Timbi-3 as females and 4 testers RT-125, Guj.Til-1, Guj.Til-2 and Guj.Til-10 as males crossed in line x tester mating design. Crosses BAVJ-1 x RT-125, BAVJ-1 x Guj.Til-1 and Timbi-3 x Guj.Til-10 were the best heterotic combinations for seed yield, which recorded the highest standard heterosis over variety Guj.Til-2. Combining ability analysis revealed predominance of non- additive gene action for all the characters which can be improved by bi-parental mating or reciprocal recurrent selection. The female parents ES-246, BAVJ-1, Kalyanpur-2, Ingorola-7 and male parent Guj.Til-1 were found as the good general combiners for seed yield per plant. The cross combinations Timbi-3 x Guj.Til-10, TNAU-2 x Guj.Til-2 and SI-968 x Guj.Til-2 showed high per se performance and significant sca effects for yield per plant, such crosses would be exploited for future use.