Selection criteria for Nigerian sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes

Thirteen genotypes of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) were grown in a randomized complete block design experiment at Abeokuta to determine the selection criteria for seed yield improvement in Nigerian sesame genotypes. Simple correlation coefficients for nine characters indicated that sesame seed yield was significantly and positively correlated with number of days to flowering, height of first capsule, capsule weight per plant, and capsule number per plant. Path coefficient analyses revealed that capsule weight per plant had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield relative to other variables. Step-wise multiple regression showed that 86.4% of the total variations in seed yield could be explained by variations in capsule weight per plant, seed weight, and capsule number per plant, implying that capsule weight per plant could be used as primary selection criterion for improving seed yield in Nigerian sesame genotypes.