Compatibility Assessment of the Sesame Promising Lines in the Sistan Region using Multivariate Analysis Methods

Sesame is an oilseed crop with high resistance to dehydration. This plant with the minimum moisture requirements has a good performance compared to the other crops in the summer. Recognition of high-yielding genotypes under these conditions is one of the priorities of sesame breeding programs. In the current study, 10 promising sesame lines derived from segregating generations that were superiors in the preliminary evaluations were evaluated along with 6 local genotypes in the form of RCBD with 3 replications in the Sistan region during two cropping seasons. Different quantitative and phenological traits were evaluated during the growing periods. ANOVA results indicated significant differences among genotypes for their grain yield, biological yield, plant height and thousand seed weight. Using Duncan's mean comparison method, genotypes 3, 13, 5 and 7 were identified as superior genotypes. The correlation study of the studied traits showed a positive and significant relationship between grain yield and 1000-seed weight. Also, biplot diagram of genotypes distribution on the first two components showed that genotypes 3, 5 and 13 are different from other genotypes in the term of quantitative traits and were considered as the best ones. Cluster analysis for all traits using Ward method also distinguished genotypes 3 and 13 from other genotypes. Additionally, genotypes ranking based on the selection index of ideal genotype (SSIG) revealed genotypes 3 and 13 as high ranking genotypes. Therefore, using different multivariate analysis methods, genotypes 3, 13 and 5 are introduced as desirable yielded genotypes with high compatibility in the Sistan region.