Genetic Variability and Quantitative Traits Inheritance in Different Origins of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Genotypes

Abstract

Evaluation of phenotypic variability, heritability, and genetic advancement in germplasm collections is important for both plant breeders and germplasm curators to optimize the use of the variability available. A total of 300 sesame germplasm collected from diverse ecologies of Ethiopia and germplasm introduced from different African and Asian countries, including 16 released varieties, were planted at the Gondar Agriculture Research Center, Metema, and Tach/ Armacho trial sites using alpha lattice design in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 cropping seasons.

Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among germplasm for the twenty-two characters studied except for the number of secondary branches, petiole length at the middle leaf, mean capsule width, and mean capsule thickness. This indicated the existence of much genetic variation among germplasm for most characters studied. High heritability combined with high genetic advance was recorded for plant height, primary branch, petiole length of top leaf, days to flower initiation, days to 50% flowering, pod bearing zone, seed yield per plant, and bacterial blight reaction indicating that these characters are controlled by additive gene effect and thereby phenotypic selection of these characters would be effective for further breeding purpose. The results obtained in this study would facilitate the improvement of climate-friendly sesame varieties through breeding and conservation of sesame genetic resources