Heterosis and Per se performance studies in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

The present study comprised of a full diallel set of eight diverse parental lines and their 56 F₁s including reciprocals. The data were recorded for ten quantitative traits. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences due to genotypes for all the characters. Mean performance of parents revealed a significant difference for all the traits under study excluding days to 50 per cent flowering and seed yield. The parent TBS-3 was top in seed yield per plant followed by TBS-10 and TBS-105. Length of the capsule was found highest in the parent TBS-10. Parental line V-29 recorded the maximum number of seeds per capsule while 1000 seed weight and oil content were recorded as the highest in TBS-105. Regarding the mean performance of hybrids exhibited significant difference for all the traits under study. Hybrid TBS-105 x R-09 was the top yielder followed by TBS-105 x V-29 and TBS-7 x V-29. Hybrid TBS12 x TBS-105 had displayed a maximum 1000-seed weight whereas, the highest oil content was recorded in hybrid TBS-105 x V-29. Among the 56 F₁s TBS-105 x R-09, TBS-105 x V-29 and TBS-7 x V-29 were top rankings crosses manifested highly significant and desirable heterosis for seed yield and either of the component traits viz., plant height, the number of branches, the number of capsules, capsule length and the number of seeds per capsule over mid, a better parent and standard check.