GENOTYPE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION OF FOUR SESAME (Sesamum indicant L.) GENOTYPES IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The experiment was carried out at three different locations (Lafia, Keffi and Akwanga) in Nasarawa State, during the 2012 cropping season (July to December) for identification of sesame genotypes through morphological characterization, genetic and environment interaction. The sesame genotypes were studied for morphology as well as genotype-environment interaction (GxE) in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications across the three environments. The varieties of Sesame used include E8, Ex-sudan, Boroko local and NCR1BEN 01M. The varieties were obtained from National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Baddegi, Niger State. The genotypes were classified morphologically on the bases of plant height, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, stem pigmentation, Leaf length, Leaf shape, Leaf colour, 50% flowering, flower petal colour, flower hairiness, number of pods per axial, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod shape, pod beak, seed colour , and thousand seed weight. The combined analysis of variance showed significant difference (P< 0.05) between the genotypes, environment and GxE. The two Additive Mean Multiplication Interactions (AMM3) captured the largest portion of variation of the total (GxE) for yield performance. The genotypes E8 and NCRJOBEN 01M showed little (GxE) with both IPCA1 and IPCA2 and were considered stable. Keffi environment was the most favourable for all genotypes where maximum mean seed yield was recorded (518.95kg/ha), while Lafia environment with mean seed yield of (410.82 kg/ha) showed suitability of performance of three genotypes. Akwanga was the least favourable environment for the performance of genotypes with the mean seed yield of (266.44 kg/ha). The results of this study clearly showed the performances of four sesame genotypes in three different environments across Nasarawa State using Interaction Principal Component Analysis (TPCA).