Interrelationship and Path Coefficient Analysis of Some Growth and Yield Characterestics in Sesame (Sesamum Indicum L.)

Field experiments were conducted during 2005 and 2006 rainy seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm,Faculty of Agriculture, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria (Latitude 100 15’N and longitude 130 16’ E atan altitude of 696 m above sea level) to study the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) rates on somegrowth and yield characteristics of sesame as well as to determine the interrelationship, path coefficient analysisand percentage contributions of these growth characters to seed yield. The treatments consisted of four N rates- 0,30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 and four P rates- 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg ha-1. These treatments in factorial combinations werelaid out in split plot design with N rates assigned to main plots and P rates assigned to sub plots and werereplicated four times. The following data were collected; number of branches per plant, leaf area per plant, plantheight and seed yield per hectare and were subjected to correlation and path coefficient analyses. Result obtainedshowed a positive relationship among the characters measured which also contributed meaningfully both directlyand indirectly to total seed yield per plant with number of branches and plant height making the highest directcontributions, respectively. Hence these two may serve as a basis for selection in sesame crop improvement.