Effects of para-dichlorobenzene and sodium azide on growth and yield of sesame (<i>Sesamum indicum<i/> L.)

Abstract

Sesame is an important source of income and edible oil particularly in sub-saharan Africa. Its cultivation is constrains by many factors including lack of improved varieties. This research was carried out to evaluate the effect of chemical mutagens (Sodium Azide and Para-dichlorobenzene) on Germination and Seedlings of three sesame varieties (Ex-sudan, E-8 and JAN-IRI). Pot experiments were conducted during 2017and 2018 dry seasons using completely randomized design (CRD). The treated seeds were planted and resulting plants (M₀) were allowed to produce the seeds. The seeds of the M₀ were used in generating M₁ plant which were used to evaluate the effect of the mutagens. The seeds of M₀ were planted in a polypots containing (3:1 top soil and compost manure mixture) and watered every two days. Few days to germination were obtained in seed treated with 1.0 mM Sodium azide (3.0 days) and 3.0 mM Para-dichlorobenzene (3.0 days) in Ex-Sudan, 3.0 mM Sodium azide (3.0 days) in E-8 while the highest root length at seedling stage was obtained when JAN-IRI and Ex-sudan were treated with 1.0 mM Para-dichlorobenzene (4.2cm) and the highest shoot length was obtained when Ex-sudan was treated with 2.0 mM (19.3cm) and 3.0 mM Sodium azide (18.2cm). Therefore, it is recommended that application of Sodium azide at 2.0 mM and 3.0 mM Para-dichlorobenzene should be adopted by breeders in improving quantitative and physiological traits of sesame varieties.