COMBINING ABILITY AND HETEROSIS STUDIES IN SESAME (Sesamum indicum L)

The combining ability and heterosis studies using line x tester (15 lines and 4 testers) in sesame revealed the importance of both additive as well as non-additive gene effects in the inheritance, although preponderance of additive type of gene action in the inheritance of days to flowering, capsule bearing length, seed per capsule and oil content. Preponderance of non-additive gene action were noted for days to maturity, plant height, branches per plant, capsule per plant, capsule length, 1000 seed weight and seed yield per plant. The parents RT-54, HT-1, CST-783, TNAU-65 andRT-49 were better general combiners for seed yield and its components traits. The parents CST-783, RT-127, and RT-49 were good general combiners for high oil content. The highest desirable heterosis expression over standard check were observed for grain yield (425%) followed by seed per capsule (159%), capsules per plant (150%), capsule bearing length (64%), branches per plant (59%) and days to earliness (6%)