The Effect of Planting Dates on some Growth Traits at the Flowering Stage for Four Varieties of Sesame Crop

Abstract

Abstract A Field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2023 at the Al-Hamadiyah station, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, east of Ramadi city, Iraq, with the aim was to determining the effect of planting dates on four varieties of sesame crop. A randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) was used with three replications, in a split-plot arrangement, where planting dates (1/5, 15/5, and 1/6) occupied the main plots and varieties (Had, Al-Rafidain, Common Local, and Foreign) occupied the subplots. The results showed a significant increase for the first planting date in all the studied traits, namely: number of branches, leaf area, leaf water content, lesser water loss, higher chlorophyll content in leaves, and plant dry weight (all traits were measured at the beginning of flowering) (5.72 branches plant-1, 463.10 dm2, 99.77, 0.159, 55.82 SPAD, and 96.42 grams, respectively,). While, the second planting date achieved lower averages for the aforementioned traits, except for water loss, which recorded a lower average of 0.122%. The Hade variety excelled in the number of branches (6.46 branches plant-1), leaf area (463.10 dm2), and dry weight (86.56 grams plant-1). In contrast, the foreign variety had the highest relative water content and the least water loss percentage (93.77 and 0.123) respectively. The Rafidain variety showed the lowest number of branches, at 3.82 branches plant-1. The interaction between the two factors had a significant effect on all studied traits, indicating a difference in the response of plant varieties to the effect of planting dates.