Evaluation of Seed Yield and Correlation between traits of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in Climate Conditions of Isfahan

This study was conducted at the research farm of Isfahan University of Technology in 2007 to investigate genetic variability for different agronomic traits among 16 cultivars of sesame. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used in this experiment. Significant differences were detected among the genotypes for all of the studied traits such as number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 1000-seed weight, seed yield per plant and seed yield per plot. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was greater than the genetic once for all the traits, but their differences were so small in most of the traits. Days to flowering, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 1000-seed weight, biologic yield and harvest index had high and positive correlation with both seed yield per plant and seed yield per plot. The result of stepwise regression showed that number of capsules per plant, 1000-seed weight and number of seeds per capsule explained 79% of the variation for seed yield per plant. The results of path coefficient analysis indicated that 1000-seed weight had the most direct and positive genetic effects on seed yield per plant and seed yield per plot. In general, the result of this study showed that there was high genetic variation among cultivars for all of the studied traits and selection can be effective to improve them. In breeding programs of sesame, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule and 1000-seed weight can be used as selection criteria to improve seed yield.