Combining ability studies for assessment of yield and its components in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

An 8 x 8 diallel cross mating design with parents and F1s was used to estimate gene action and combining ability for yield and 
yield characters in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The experiment was conducted at the AICRP, JNKVV, College of Agriculture 
Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh in kharif season. Crosses were attempted between parents in diallel mating design (without 
reciprocal). The genetic variance of combining ability was separated into general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability 
variance components. The results indicated significant differences among the parents for general combining ability (gca) and 
crosses for specific combining ability (sca) for all the characters studied except for capsule length in F1s. While parent v/s crosses 
for all the characters had adequate genetic variability. However, the sca component of variance was predominant indicating the 
predominance of non additive gene effects for the traits studied. Among the parents, ES-230 and SI-1147 were good general 
combiners for seed yield per plant and its attributing traits. Estimates of gca effects in parents and F2s  indicated that ES-230 and 
SI-775 were good general combiners for seed yield per plant and its attributing traits. The estimates of specific combining ability 
revealed that the crosses viz. ES-230 x NIC-8401,IS-1162 x NIC-8401,IS-1162 x MT-75,SI-1147 x SI-775, SI775 x DS-10 and 
SI-775 x MT-75 were the best specific combiners for seed yield per plant. The F1 hybrids showing high sca and parents having 
good gca will be included in breeding programme for further improvement of seed yield in sesame.