Development of multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

Sesame and its oil has numerous health and industrial benefits and is widely used for baking, medicine, cosmetics and animal feeds. In India sesame is grown in 15.8 lakh ha with a production of 7.92 lakh tons and with an average productivity of 500 kg/ha. (Department of agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers welfare. Third Advance Estimates of Production of Commercial Crops for 2020-21). Sesame is predominantly cultivated during kharif season (Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat) followed by summer season (after late paddy or potato harvest in Odisha) and as pre kharif and rabi crop in parts of Southern India. The productivity is low during kharif season (150-800 kg/ha) when compared with summer season (650-1000 kg/ha). Photo and thermo sensitivity of the crop and genotype x environment interaction restrict the breeders to develop varieties specific to season and region. Development of sesame populations which have broad genetic base with favourable alleles is the need of the hour to obtain genotypes with photo and thermo insensitivity. Population developed involving diverse multiparents is expected to have higher recombination and consequent genetic diversity. In this regard, a MAGIC population was developed using eight diverse parents/varieties grown in different agro-ecological regions of India viz., E-8 (Karnataka ; kharif), GT-2 (Gujarat ;kharif), HT-1 (Haryana; kharif), Phule til (Maharashtra; kharif), RT-351 (Rajasthan; kharif), Swetha til (Telangana ;summer), TKG-22 (Madhya Pradesh; kharif) and VRI-3 (Tamil Nadu; summer) by single capsule descent approach. The F5 RIL’S possess wide genetic base for most of the agronomic and yield traits. This MAGIC population would beuseful to map QTL’s linked to traits of interest with higher resolution and can also serve as a source material for further molecular studies.