Genotypic Variation of Microelements Concentration in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Mini Core Collection

Abstract

Evaluation of germplasm for mineral content and selecting varieties with high quantities of essential minerals and incorporating those varieties in breeding program can assist in developing mineral-efficient crops with higher yield which can accumulate minerals from marginal soil. Sesame an oldest oilseed crop is a popular food with medicinal value although its production is often focussed in marginal and sub-marginal lands. In the present study, 60 sesame genotypes of diverse origin collected from Bangladesh, Bulgaria, India and USA were examined in the acid-digested samples by atomic absorption spectrophotometer for Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr and Co contents. All elements except Cr were found to be highly variable among genotypes. A significant discrimination showed that elements content in the sesame seeds was a seed coat coloured specific character. High-yielding developed varieties of India contain high Zn but low Fe concentration in seed. The concentration of mineral elements in black-seeded genotypes was significantly higher than those in white seeded. The indigenous collections were found to be a good reservoir of mineral elements. Correlation study among trace elements and yield attributes indicated that though Fe and Zn were not correlated significantly with yield and its components, but the two elements were interrelated. Phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variability and heritability were high for Fe and Zn. The study suggests that observed large genetic variability for element concentrations in the genotypes provides good prospects to breed improved sesame cultivars with elevated levels of micronutrients to mitigate mineral deficiency