Studies on reciprocal differences and gene actions through diallel analysis in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.).

Sesame is the most traditional and important oil yielding crop grown in India. A careful choice of parents in breeding programmes is important particularly if the aim is to improve quantitative characters like yield and its components. The concept of a combining ability analysis gives precise estimates of the nature and magnitude of gene actions involved in the inheritance of quantitative characters, which facilitate the identification of parents with good general combining ability effects and crosses with good specific combining ability effects. It is also useful for selecting the most suitable breeding method. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to study the nature of gene action and maternal effects present in the inheritance of the quantitative characters.