Germination, Vigor and Yield Performance of Different Sesame (Sesamum Indicum L.) Varieties

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Laboratory of Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna and another was a field experiment was conducted at the Field Laboratory of the same Discipline during kharif-1 (March-June), 2006 to determine germination capacity, vigor and yielding ability of different sesame varieties. Seven varieties of sesame (V₁ = T-6, V₂ = BARI Til-2, V₃ = BARI Til-3, V₄ = BINA Til, V₅ = Khulna local Til, V₆ = Panchagarh Local Til-1 and V₇ = Panchagarh Local Til-2) were used as treatment variables in the experiments. The laboratory experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) while the field experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Germination test was done in the laboratory following Petri dish method. Germination was counted at an interval of 24 hours and continued for seven days. Seedling dry weight was recorded from 3rd day to 18th day at three day intervals. Plant height, number of branches plant⁻¹, number of leaves plant⁻¹, number of capsules plant⁻¹, length of capsule, number of seeds capsule⁻¹, 1000-seed weight, seed yield plant⁻¹ and harvest index were recorded from each replicated plot in the field trial. There was wide variation in germination percentage among the varieties. BARI Til-3 had the highest germination percentage (99.33) followed by BINA Til (94.00%) while Panchagarh Local Til-1 exhibited the lowest germination percentage (30.00). T-6 was found superior attaining the maximum dry weight at every sampling dates. However, performance of other varieties was variable. All the yield attributes except 1000-seed weight were significantly affected by variety. All the yield parameters were found maximum in the variety T-6 except capsule length and seeds capsule⁻¹. Variety BINA Til possessed the longest capsules as well as more number of seeds capsule⁻¹. The performance of other varieties was not consistent. Seed yield was well correlated with plant height, leaf plant⁻¹, capsule number and harvest index.