Department of Agricultural, Botany Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai - 625 104, India.
* Department of Rice, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbalore - 641 003, Indla.
A line x tester analysis was carried out using eight genotypes as lines and four varieties as testers to study the combining ability in six important economic traits in sesame (Sesamum indicum L). The study indicated significant additive and non additive genetic effects for all the traits studied. However additive gene action was predominantfor the trait plant height and non additive gene action was predominant for days to 50 per cent flowering, number of primary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, oil per cent and single plant yield. DCH 47-2-60 was the best general combiner for all the traits. DCH 25-1 was a good combiner for plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, oil per cent, and single plant yield. The hybrids DCH-25-1 x TMV 6, TNAU 120 x CO 1,YLM 40 x SVPR 1 and TNAU 120 x SVPR 1 had high sea effects for most of the characters including oil percent and single plant yield. Hybrids with high sea effects h~d parents showing both high and tow gca effects.
