This study was conducted to analyze the responses of some agronomic traits to the different cultural environments and relations among the agronomic traits for selecting sesame varieties with higher cultural stabilities. The indexes for stability parameters measured were coefficient of variability, heritabilities, genetic correlations and path coefficients of agronomic traits according to locations and years in Korea. The heritabilities of agronomic traits showed different by locations and years. Number of seeds per capsule and 1000 seeds weight showed higher heritabilities, but stem length and seed weight per plant showed relatively lower heritabilities. Average heritabilities of some agronomic traits in 1998 were comparatively higher than those of 1999. Of six areas, Jinju area showed biggest coefficient of yield variability in 1998-1999. Iksan and Taegu areas showed higher heritabilities in 1998, but Iksan and Jinju areas showed lower heritabilities in 1999. Genetic correlations were slightly higher than corresponding phenotypic correlations. Stem length showed positive genetic correlation with the number of capsules per plant, and seed weight per plant and the number of capsule per plant showed positive genetic correlation with seed weight per plant. On the analysis of path coefficients, stem length and number of capsules effected highly on grain yield. Great regional variations were observed on the effects of agronomic traits on grain yield. Higher direct effects of stem length on grain yield were observed at Suwon, Chungwon, Taegu, Jinju and Naju areas, but in Iksan area was observed higher direct effect of the number of capsules per plant on grain yield in 1998. In 1999, higher direct effect of stem length on grain yield was observed at Chungwon and Suwon areas. Iksan and Taegu areas were also observed higher direct effect of the number of capsule per plant on grain yield.

• Kang-Bo Shim
• Chul-Whan Kang
• Sung-Woo Lee
• Dong-Hee Kim
• Bong-Ho Lee