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

Abstract

Fifty sesame crosses generated in line x tester (10 lines x 5 testers) mating method were studied to estimate combining 
ability for fourteen characters in sesame. Analysis of variance for combining ability revealed that the mean squares due 
to lines, testers and line x testers were significant for all the characters except mean squares due to lines for days to 
maturity. The results indicated the importance of both additive and non-additive genetic variances in the expression of 
these characters. The estimated ratio of ˆ 2gca/ˆ 2sca from analysis of combining ability revealed that non-additive 
gene action was predominant in the genetic control of all the characters studied except plant height. Among female 
parents, ES-246 was found to be good general combiner for eleven characters followed by Lalavadar-6 for five 
characters and Borda-2 for four characters. Among the testers, G.Til-4 was good general combiner for seven characters 
followed by G.Til-1-9-4, which gave desirable gca for five traits. The estimates of sca effects of the crosses indicated 
that twelve hybrids manifested significant and positive sca effects for seed yield per plant. Among these, the best three 
specific cross combinations were RMT-180 x G. Til-3, Borda-2 x G. Til-1-9-4 and Lalavadar-6 x J-68-3., which had 
high sca effects for seed yield per plant along with per se performance and other yield traits.