To identify superior hybrids and create desirable combinations, a half diallel set involving six parental sesame genotypes
was conducted in 2014 season. Six parental sesame genotypes and their 15 F1 crosses were evaluated at Bahteem Research
Station in summer season 2015 using randomized complete block design with three replications. Genotypes and its
components (parents, hybrids and parents vs. hybrids) mean squares were highly significant for all studied traits. General
(GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability mean squares were highly significant for all studied traits.
Also, additive gene action was governed in most studied traits. The best combiners for seed yield/plot and one or more of
its components were detected NA.77 (P3) and NA.78 (P4). The highest heterotic effects over mid and better parents were
detected in F1 hybrids, NA.80 x NA.35 (P1 xP5) and NA.80 x NA.40 (P1 xP6) for seed yield/plant and seed yield/plot and
one or more of its attributes. Significant or highly significant values and high values of the dominance component (H1) were
also observed for the most studied trait, indicating that the presence of over-dominance and its confirmed by (H/D)0.5 (more
than 1).
The effective selection and high narrow sense heritability were detected for days to 50% flowering (62%), days to
physiological maturity (77%) ranging from 62 to77. The parents of NA.77 (P3), NA.59 (P2), NA.78 (P4) carried the most
dominance genes responsible for the expression of seed yield/plant and plot in contrary NA.80 and NA.35 for seed yield/plot
possessed high concentration of recessive genes.