D. Umamaheswari, S. Suganthi, S. Thirumeni, P. Satheesh Kumar and R. Bhuvaneswari
Abstract
This study uncovers the genetic diversity of 40 sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes and identifies the key yield-contributory traits using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a multivariate technique. Sesame is an important oilseed crop grown for seed oil and harbors greater genetic diversity besides it faces challenges like low productivity, vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses. PCA is commonly used in plant breeding for assessing the genetic diversity. The analysis revealed three principal components such as days to fifty percent flowering, number of primary branches per plant and number of capsules per plant accounting for 69% of the total phenotypic variation and its relationship with other components. PC1 explained the largest proportion of variation (41.99%), followed by PC2 (15.18%) and PC3 (11.79%). The Scree plot illustrates each componentâs contribution to phenotypic variation, while the biplot graph visualizes the genotype distribution. Thus, these principal components may serve as selection criteria for improving seed yield in sesame.