Sources and inheritance of resistance to Sesame Webworm in Uganda

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important income security crop among smallholder farmers in Eastern and Northern Uganda. However, Sesame webworm (Antigastra catalaunalis Dup) causes high yield loses in Uganda. A few sesame genotypes resistant to the Webworm have been reported but these have not been studied in the Uganda context. Five genetically diverse parents were crossed in a half-diallel mating design (U1-7 and Ajimo A1-5, highly resistant), (SPSICR3-1-2-2-4, Runner 1-3-1-17-1, highly susceptible) and (Sesim2/5181, moderately resistant). The F1 progeny and the five parents were planted in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at NaSARRI (Serere) in eastern Uganda during the second rains of 2015. The results showed that resistance to sesame webworm is controlled by both additive and non-additive genetic effects with the additive being more important. Large negative GCA effects were recorded for percent leaf damage, severity, damaged plants per plot and number of larvae counts per plant in Ajimo A1-5 and U1-7 implying that these genotypes can be used as donors for resistance against the Sesame Webworm.