The Heterosis Effect for Yield and Some Plant Characteristics in Sesame (Sesamum Indicum L.)

Vegetable oils have a very important place in human nutrition as an energy source. Sesame seeds contain high amounts of oil and protein. The most important factor preventing the development of sesame agriculture on a global scale was low seed yield. In this research, three varieties (Kepsut-99, Orhangazi-99, and Tan-99) were included in the hybridization studies as the female parent (line), and the other three varieties (Arslanbey, Boydak, and Hatipoğlu) were studied as the male parent (tester) in 2019. The resulting 9 F1 experimental hybrids with their inbred parents were planted in a randomized block trial design with 3 replications in 2020. In the study, plant height, number of branches, number of capsules, thousand seed weights, and seed yield characteristics were evaluated, and heterosis and heterobeltiosis values for each evaluated feature were calculated. As a result of the study, it was determined that the Hatipoğlu variety was compatible with all lines, and P1 × P6 (Kepsut-99 × Hatipoğlu) and P2 × P6 (Orhangazi-99 × Hatipoğlu) hybrids were the most suitable hybrid combinations with positive significant heterosis values in terms of capsule number and seed yield.