General and Specific Combining Ability in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) for Seed Yield and Related Traits

Combining ability study on seed yield per plant from a 7x 7 half-diallel cross of sesame over two years showed that both general combining ability (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) variances important for controlling the traits. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the gene action and select appropriate parents/crosses using combining ability analysis. Both additive and non additive was of greater significance for seed yield per plant, capsules per plant, days to flowering and oil content. Non additive genetic variances were in the genetic for 1000 seed weight and branches per plant. On the contrary preponderance of additive genetic was found in the inheritance of capsule length and seeds per capsule. The relative magnitude non-additive year interaction was larger than additive x year interaction. The variety Suprava was the best general combiner for seed yield and its major components except oil content. The cross combinations Suprava x Savitri, Suprava x JLT 408 and EC 90 x Savitri would be the best choices for obtaining desirable recombinants. Suprava x Savitri having additive gene control emerged as the best specific combiner for yield and its components except oil content. For improving seed yield and oil content simultaneously, the specific combiner IC 59 x Savitri was identified to be ideal as this cross mostly controlled by additive gene action and hence desirable recombinants can be obtained in early segregating generation. Breeding strategy for different crosses has been discussed in details. The information could help sesame breeders for appropriate selection of parents with high yield potential and oil content to develop future hybridization programs.