Heterosis for seed yield and its components in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

An experiment was conducted to know the nature and magnitude of heterosis for seed yield per plant and its eleven yield attributing components. The experimental material used in a study consisted of 37 test entries comprised of 28 hybrids developed from eight diverse parental lines and one standard check (G.TIL 4). The crosses were made in 8 x 8 diallel fashion without reciprocals, to obtain sufficient seeds of the 28 F1 hybrids. The high, significant and positive standard heterosis for seed yield per plant and some of its component traits were recorded in the crosses viz. AT 347 x G.TIL 4, AT 377 x AT 396, AT 396 x AT 404 and AT 376 x AT 377, Such crosses could be exploited for practical heterosis breeding programme in sesame. On the basis of per se performance and high heterotic response involved in the expression of yield and its components, the four crosses viz., AT 347 x G.TIL 4, AT 377 x AT 396, AT 396 x AT 404 and AT 376 x AT 377 appeared to be most superior. These hybrids recorded 22.86, 22.77, 20.51 and 17.17 per cent higher yield respectively, over standard parent (G.TIL 4) in desirable direction for seed yield and some components traits of seed yield. Therefore, these four crosses could be exploited for heterosis breeding programme to boost the seed yield in sesame.