Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops with high oil contents and rich nutrient value. The development of a core collection could facilitate easier access to sesame genetic resources for their use in crop improvement programs and simplify the genebank management. The present study was initiated to the development and evaluation of a core collection of sesame based on 5 qualitative and 10 quantitative trait descriptors on 2,751 sesame accessions. The accessions were different countries of origin. About 10.1 percent of accessions were selected by using the power core program to constitute a core collection consisting of 278 accessions. Mean comparisons using t-test, Nei’s diversity index of 10 morphological descriptors and correlation coefficients among traits indicated that the existing genetic variation for these traits in the entire collection has been preserved in the core collection. The results from this study will provide effective information for future germplasm conservation and improvement programs in sesame.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
  Data set
  Statistical analysis in entire and core collection
 RESULTS
  Development of core collection
  Quantitative traits mean comparison analysis
  Nei’s diversity index
  Fatty acid analysis
  Qualitative trait frequency distribution in entire andcore collection
  Compare different indicators percentage analysis
  Correlation coefficient analysis
 DISCUSSION
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 REFERENCES

• Jong-Hyun Park(Food Grain Policy Division, MAFRA)
• Sundan Suresh(Department of Botony, Directorate of Distance Education, Madurai Kamaraj University)
• Sebastin Raveendar(National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, RDA)
• Hyung-Jin Baek(National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, RDA)
• Chung-Kon Kim(Agricultural Research & Extension Services)
• Sokyoung Lee(National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, RDA)
• Gyu-Taek Cho(National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, RDA)
• Kyung-Ho Ma(National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, RDA)
• Chul-Won Lee(Department of Crop science, Chungbuk National University) Corresponding author
• Jong-Wook Chung(***National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, RDA) Corresponding author