Evaluation of sesame genotypes for seed yield and bacterial blight (Xanthomonas campestris pv. sesami) disease resistance in optimum moisture areas of Western Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the major producers of sesame in sub-Saharan Africa, and Ethiopian sesame particularly the whitish Humera type is among the highest quality in the world. However, the yield is lower than some of the producing countries due to many factors including low yielding varieties and bacterial blight disease severities. This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating sesame genotypes for yield and bacterial blight disease resistance during 2017/18 –2018/19 main cropping seasons at Dansha, Ethiopia. Sixteen sesame genotypes were evaluated with one local variety in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications under hot spot area for bacterial blight disease infection. There was significant (P < 0.05) difference among the genotypes for yield, yield-related traits and bacterial blight disease severity. Higher seed yield was recorded in genotype WARC-063 (716.2 kg) with a mean yield advantage of 24.3% over the standard check Humera-1 whereas the lowest seed yield was recorded in WARK-081 (354.0 kg/ha). In response to disease reaction, four genotypes (WARC-063, WARK-074, Gonder-1, and Gida-Ayana) were resistant against bacterial blight and had higher grain yield than the rest of genotypes. From the study result, it could be concluded that genotype WARC-063, WARK-074, Gonder-1 and Gida-Ayana were both high yielding and resistant to bacterial blight disease and could be cultivated for seed yield in areas with bacterial blight disease problems. They could also be used in sesame breeding programs for further improvement.

Keywords

• sesame
• genotypes
• bacterial blight
• optimum moisture
• yield
• resistance