GENETIC DIVERSITY, CORRELATION AND PATH CO-EFFICIENT ANALYSIS IN SESAME (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

Fifty genotypes of sesame (Sesamum indicwn L.) were studied in a field experiment conducted at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. during November 2008 to February 2009. The objectives of the study were to measure the variability among the genotypes for yield and yield contributing characters, estimate genetic parameters, association among the characters and their contribution to yield. There was a great deal of significant variation for all the characters among the genotypes. Considering genetic parameters high genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) was observed for yield per plant, no. of capsules per plant & no. of seeds per capsule where as low genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) was observed days to 80% maturity and length of capsule. In all cases, phenotypic variances were higher than the genotypic variances except days to 80% maturity and length of capsules. Higher heritability with Low genetic advance in percent of mean was observed in days to 80% maturity which indicated that non-additive gene effect was involved for the expression of this character and selection for such trait might not be rewarding. High heritability with high genetic advance was observed for number of capsule per plant and yield per plant indicated that these traits were under additive gene control and selection for genetic improvement for this trait would be effective. Correlation studies revealed that highest significant association of yield per plant and 1000-seeds weight at both genotypic and phenotypic level. Path co-efficient analysis revealed that number of capsules per plant showed maximum direct positive contribution on yield per plant. Highest intra-cluster distance was fotmd in cluster in cluster IV and lowest in cluster V among five clusters. The highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster I and II and lowest between cluster III & V. Considering genetic diversity and other agronomic performance the genotypes (15, G9, (132 from cluster 1, (149 from cluster 11 and (129 from cluster V might be selected as suitable parents for future hybridization program.