Heterosis studies for quantitative traits in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

A study was conducted in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) at Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, N.M. College of Agriculture, NAU, Navsari (Gujarat) to assess the extent of heterosis for eleven quantitative traits. Five lines and ten testers were crossed in line x tester manner to develop 50 F1 hybrids. Analysis of variance revealed the significant differences among the crosses for all traits. Heterosis was worked out over better parent and standard varieties Gujarat Til-4 and TKG-22. Five hybrids viz., Gujarat Til-1 x JLS-116, Gujarat Til-2 x JLS-116, Gujarat Til-3 x AKT-64, Patan-64 x JLS-9707-2 and Patan-64 x JLT-408 showed desirable heterobeltiosis for seed yield per plant along with other six major yield contributing characters. The crosses Gujarat Til-3 x AKT-64, Gujarat Til-3 x PKV-NT-11, Gujarat Til-3 x JLS-9707-2 and Gujarat Til-3 x JLS-116 were the best heterotic combinations for seed yield, which recorded 85.81 and 98.08, 63.38 and 74.13, 63.38 and 74.13, 54.28 and 64.43 percent standard heterosis over Gujarat Til-4 and TKG-22, respectively. These crosses could be utilized for hybrid development after testing in large scale trials to confirm the superiority in heterosis.