A set of 50 different genotypes of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) were grown in three replications in rainy season of 2006 at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh to work out the direct selection parameters, heritability and genetic advance and indirect selection parameters, correlation and path coefficient. The characters studied were harvest index, plant height, days to 50% flowering, number of branches plant−1, number of capsules plant−1, days to maturity, 1000-seed weight, oil content (%) and grain yield plant−1. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences for almost all the characters. Phenotypic coefficient of variation was, generally, higher than those of genotypic estimates. Heritability estimate was the highest for number of capsules plant−1. Genetic gain was maximum for 1000-seed weight and grain yield plant−1. High heritability and high genetic gain were observed for 1000-seed weight, grain yield, harvest index and number of capsules plant−1. Estimates of genotypic correlations were higher than those of phenotypic ones in all the cases of grain yield. In path analysis, direct and indirect effects were computed and it was found that number of capsules plant−1 contributed maximum direct effect on grain yield and other characters.
Correlations, Genetic advance, Heritability, Path analysis, Selection parameters, Sesame
