Mutation Breeding for Genetic Improvement and the Development of High Yielding Mutant Variety of Sesame (Binatil-3)

Sesame plays an important role in human nutrition. Sesame seed contain fat, protein, carbohydrates, fiber and some minerals. The seeds of creamy seed-coat color of popular sesame variety Binatil-1 were irradiated with gamma rays to create genetic variability for earliness, higher seed yield and other desirable agronomic traits. The experiment was conducted at BINA headquarters farm, Mymensingh during March-May (Kharif-I) 2002 to 2007 and 47 mutants were primarily selected based on their better field performance including seed yield plant-1 and other important agronomic traits. The mutant SM-10-04 (mutant of Binatil-1 with 500Gy of gamma rays) was found to be superior compared to other mutants and the mother variety. The evaluation trials were conducted during March-May (Kharif-I) season at different sesame growing areas of Bangladesh. Significant variations were observed both in individual location and combined over locations for most of the traits. Reactions to major disease (stem rot) and insect-pests (hairy caterpillar, hawk moth and pod borer) infestations were also studied. BINA applied to the National Seed Board (NSB) of Bangladesh for registration of the superior mutant SM-10-04 as an important sesame variety. The NSB of Bangladesh registered the mutant SM-10-04 as an improved sesame variety naming Binatil-3 in 2013 for commercial cultivation in Bangladesh. Induced mutations can be extensively and successfully used for the improvement of sesame in respect of changing branching habit and different in seed coat colour along with higher seed yield. This can be considered as a milestone achievement in mutation breeding. This variety may partially fulfill the challenges of increasing demand of edible oils and also has an opportunity for increase cultivable land under sesame in Bangladesh.