Response of Yield and Yield Component of Three Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Accessions to Density in Rostam Region, Fars Provience

Cultivar selection and proper plant density could be employed for increasing grain yield of any cultivar. With respect to the long history of sesame cultivation in Rostam region and the presense of local accessions and new cultivars in Fars provience, this study was carried out through a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications at Rostam region, Fars province in summer 2014. Effect of five plant densities (15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 plants m-2) on yield and yield components of three of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) accessions (Nurabad local, Borazjan local and Darab 14) was evaluated. The results indicated that increasing plant density from 15 to 55 plants m-2 caused a significant decrease in seed oil content (40%), seed weight (14%), number of capsules per plant (8%), and number of branches per plant (88%) in three accessions. Increasing in plant density aslo resulted an increase in grain yield (68%), biological yield (66%), grain protein content (26%), oil yield (54%) and the number of seeds per capsule (9%). The local Borazjan had the highest seed oil (57.%). Finally, because of maximum yield (1982.48 Kg ha-1) Nurabad local can be suggested for planting at 55 plants m-2 in Rostam region.