Assessment of Genetic Variability, Genetic Advance, Correlation and Path Analysis for Morphological Traits in Sesame Genotypes

Sixty four sesame accessions were evaluated in 8x8 simple lattice design at Humera in Western Tigray, in 2013/14. The objectives of the study were to estimate the genetic variability, association among characters, and to estimate genetic divergence among the accessions. Analysis of variance revealed that there was highly significant (p<0.001) difference among the sixty four accessions for all the fourteen characters studied. Number of capsule per plant and seed yield per hectare recorded high genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) but medium genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) and high phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV). The highest heritability value were for days to 50% flowering, plant height, height to first capsule and number of capsule per plant. Traits like, number of capsule per plan with high phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV), genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV), heritability and genetic advance as a percent of mean. This indicates that these characters can be improved through selection than heritability estimates alone. Number of primary branches per plant showed positive significant phenotypic and genotypic correlation with grain yield. Genotypic ally, path coefficient analysis based on grain yield as a dependent variable revealed that length of capsule bearing zone, number of primary branches per plant and 1000 seed weight exerted positive direct effect on seed yield. Thus, improvement through direct selection rather than a lengthy crossing program and hybridization involving crossing of the accessions from different clusters would produce viable and a potential segregant population.