Vol. 1, Issue 2, Part A (2019)

A line x tester analysis using two lines and ten testers was carried out to study the combining ability and gene action in sesame for seed yield and 14 quantitative traits. Analysis of variance for combining ability revealed significant differences among the mean squares due to lines were non significant for all the characters except days to 50% flowering and weight of capsules and in case of lines x testers it found significant for most of the character except days to 50% flowering, length of capsule, weight of capsule, number of capsule per leaf axil and oil content which indicated the existence of genetic diversity among the hybrids. General and specific combining ability variances showed the involvement of both type of gene actions in the inheritance of these characters. Among the lines G.Til-2 and among testers DS 21, RT 127, RT 346 and NIC 17274 were good general combiners for seed yield per plant and some of its contributing traits. The cross combination G.Til 3 × RT 127, G.Til 3 × DS 21, G.Til 3 × RT 346, G.Til 2 × RMT 175, G.Til 2 × HT 2, G.Til 2 × DS 10, G.Til 2 × RMT 166, G.Til 2 × RMT 186 and G.Til 3 × NIC 17274 showed significant and positive sca effect for seed yield per plant and involvedpoor x good, good x poor, poor x poor and good x good general combiners for majority of characters indicating the presence of dominance x additive and additive x additive type of gene interactions. These crosses have been identified as best hybrids for improving seed yield per plant and could be evaluated under different environment to confirm their superiority.