Pedigree selection in sesame under artificial infection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. sesami

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture Assiut University, Assiut Egypt

2 Agriculture Research Center, Oil Crops Division, Egypt.

3 Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

Abstract

Fusarium is one of the most dangerous fungal diseases that cause great loss of the sesame yield worldwide. The present work aimed to improve tolerance and/or resistance to Fusarium through two cycles of pedigree selection on sesame population for eight selection criteria started in the F3-generation. Genotypic coefficient of variability in the F3 varied from 4.34% for days to 50% flowering to 38.15% for seed yield (SY/P). Days to 50% flowering showed negative correlations with all traits except height to first capsule (HFC). Height to first capsule was negatively correlated with length of fruiting zone (LFZ), 1000-SW, oil% and infection%, and positively correlated with capsules/plant (NC/P) and SY/P. Single trait selection was an efficient method to improve selection criterion, but it caused adverse effects on some correlated traits. Selection for days to 50% flowering improved earliness, but it was better in improving yield if the selection was restricted by SY/P. Selection for oil% restricted by yield was better in improving yield than selection for oil% per se. Therefore, the inclusion of a trait as independent culling level improved the efficiency of selection. The best genetic gain in SY/P in percentage from the mid-parent was obtained from selection for days to 50% flowering restricted by SY/P (35.56**), LFZ restricted by HFC (19.53**), days to 50% flowering (19.32**), oil% restricted by SY/P (19.02**), SY/P (17.38**), 1000 SW (14.09**) and LFZ (14.032**). Therefore, selection index incorporating favorable trait is recommended.

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