Character association and path coefficient analysis in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

A ‘8 x 4’ line x tester analysis in Sesame was conducted to study eight important economic traits in sesame viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, number of primary branches per plant, capsule length, number of capsules per plant, 1000 seed weight, oil per cent and single plant yield. Studies on association analysis revealed that seed yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with plant height, number of primary branches per plant, capsule length, number of capsules per plant and 1000 seed weight. Partitioning of total correlation coefficient into components of direct and indirect effects revealed that number of capsules per plant was the only character which contributed to seed yield directly. The rest of the traits contributed indirectly through number of capsules per plant. It is hence suggested that number of capsules per plant can be taken as an index for improving seed yield in sesame.