The assessment of genetic diversity of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) populations supplied from different regions of Turkey based on agro-morphological traits

The key problems in sesame cultivation are seed shattering at maturity preventing combine harvest, indeterminate growth habit causing non-uniform capsule maturation, local sesame population with low yields, inability to compete with other cultivated oil crops and susceptibility to wilting under irrigation. Genetic improvement of local sesame populations has the potential to overcome these production limitations. This study carried out in the experimental area of Dicle University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops in 2014 growing season. A total of 110 diverse sesame accessions (107 local and 3 cultivars as check) collected from Mediterranean, Aegean and Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey were sown on 3 May 2014. The experiment was laid out in an augmented experimental design with eleven replications. Each plot has a size of 1.4 x 5 m2 with two rows (with a row to row spacing of 70 cm and plant to plant spacing of 10 cm). A total of 27 morphological and agronomical characters of 110 sesame material were evaluated following to IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute) descriptors of sesame. The analysis of variance of the data was done and grouped according to the method of multiple comparisons (JMP Statistical Package Program). Correlation coefficients were determined by calculating the relationships between the traits. The data subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). PCs with eigen-values > 1.0 selected as proposed by Jeffers (1967). In addition, cluster analysis also performed to assess the level of dissimilarity among the accessions. A dendogram constructed with Euclidian distance. As a result of this study, it will estimated genetic diversity and determined of genetic similarity between sesame populations to provide an infrastructure for use in future breeding programs. Thus, multi-variety analysis based on agro-morphological characters will provide genetic information that allow the breeder to improve populations by selecting from specific geographic regions. Keywords: Sesame, Genetic Diversity, Agro-Morphological Traits, Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis