Cross compatibility between Sesamum indicum L. and S. malabaricum

Abstract

Sesame is most valued annual oilseed crop of Kerala. Lack of varietieswith resistance to drought and diseases is the main problem confronting sesame cultivation in the state. The wild species Sesamum malabaricum shows tolerance to drought and most of the diseases. But this wild species appears to be non compatible with the cultivated S. indicum. An investigation was therefore undertaken to study cross compatibility between these two species. Eleven adapted varieties of S. indicum were crossed reciprocally with S. malabaricum. Capsule set was normal in direct as well as reciprocal crosses. In general it was more in reciprocal crosses . In general it was more in reciprocal crosses than in direct crosses. In spite of normal capsule set , these crosses failed to produce any normal seed. The seeds were either medium shrivelled or highly shrivelled. Failure normal seed development in a wide range of crosses confirm that these two species are noncompatible.