Genetic Analysis for Single Stemmed Sesame (Sesamumindicum L.)

Gene effects, heterosis, inbreeding depression and type of epistasis were studied for nine characters in two crosses of sesame involving single stemmed varieties. The study revealed mat additive as well as nonadditive gene effects were operative for the expression of most of the characters under study, except days to flowering where additive gene action was important. The extent of heterosis was low due to mutual cancellation of gene effects for the characters studied. Inbreeding depression was highest for capsules/plant in both crosses. The use of biparental approach, inter se mating and/or reciprocal recurrent selection would he the most appropriate breeding methods to improve these characters, except days to flowering which could best be improved by adopting pedigree method of selection.