Genetic Variability, Heritability and Selection Parameters for Yield and Oil Content Traits in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Germplasm

Abstract

The present study evaluated genetic variability, heritability and selection parameters for yield and oil-content traits in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm. Fifty-one genotypes, including three checks, were assessed during kharif 2024 at Agriculture University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, using a randomised block design with three replications. Observations were recorded for twelve quantitative traits: days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, capsule length, number of seeds per capsule, test seed weight, oil content, biological yield per plant, harvest index and seed yield per plant. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all traits studied, indicating exploitable variability. Seed yield per plant ranged from 59.99 to 423.40 g, whereas oil content ranged from 30.40 to 49.21%. RT-397 recorded the highest seed yield per plant, followed by RT-351, RT-396 and RT-372. RT-351 recorded the highest oil content, followed by RMT-623, RMT-592 and RMT-627. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were observed for seed yield per plant, number of capsules per plant and number of primary branches per plant. These traits also showed high broad-sense heritability with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean, indicating their usefulness as selection criteria under the conditions of the present study. RT-397 and RT-351 may therefore be considered promising genotypes for yield and oil-content improvement, respectively, in sesame breeding programmes.