Utility of some floral characters in the assessment of genetic diversity in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

<p>Sesame collections were evaluated for quantitative floral characters and data obtained were subjected to various statistical analyses. Result showed narrow diversity in most of the quantitative floral characters with moderate variability in length of flower (2.03-3.27 cm), length of style (1.10-1.40 cm), length of capsule (2.33-2.98 cm) and number of seeds per capsule (38.67 – 57.67). Correlation study revealed significantly (<em>p &lt; 0.01</em>) positive correlations for length of ovary versus length of flower (r= 0.70) and length of capsule versus length of style (r= 0.77). The first two principal components accounted for 61.59 % of which the first component had 34.13 % and the second was 27.46 %. Dendrogram divided the seventeen accessions/landraces into two major groups (A and B). Group A had only one cluster with five members whilegroup B had three clusters (Cluster II, III and IV) with seven, three and two members respectively. Each accession within a cluster could be employed as baseline parent in crossbreeding for improvement of yield in Nigerian sesame.</p>