Combining ability in sesame

Combining ability studies on seed yield, yield components and oil content were conducted from an 8 x 8 half-diallel cross of sesame over two years. Additive genetic variance was of greater importance for number of primary branches/plant, number of secondary branches/plant, number of capsules/plant and seed yield/plant while, additive and non-additive genetic variances were equally important for days to flowering, 1000-seed weight and oil content gca and sca manifested significant interaction with year for all characters. The relative magnitude of non-additive x year interaction was greater than additive x year interaction. The variety B 9 was best general combiner for seed yield and its major components. B14 x B 9 emerged best specific combiner for seed yield and its components. For augmenting seed yield and oil content simultaneously the cross combination MT 67–52 x TC 25 was found promising.