Agriculture Science Developments, 2(9) September 2013, Pages: 84-86

TI Journals
ISSN
2306-7527

Agriculture Science Developments

www.tijournals.com

Effect of Biological Plant Growth Promoters

on Yield and Yield Components of Sesame
M. Azizi *1, E. Mahmoudabadi 2
1
2

Department of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd Branch, Iran.

Agricultural Organization of Northern Khorasan, Bojnourd , Iran.

AR TIC LE INF O

AB STR AC T

Keywords:

Bio-fertilizers have a distinct role in soil fertility and crop production, especially in recent years.
For evaluation of biological plant growth promoters on seed yield and its components in sesame
cultivars, a factorial experiment was conducted with three replications, in research field of Islamic
Azad University of Bojnourd over the 2011 growing season. Three genotypes of sesame including,
Oltan, Dashtestan and Jargalan were subjected to combinations of seed treatment and spraying of
bio-promoters in pre and after flowering stages. Biological plant growth promoters were Wocozim
and Kedan . Analysis of variance showed, experimental factors had a significant effect on seed
yield and yield components of sesame genotypes. The highest seed yield achieved from Oltan
cultivar in combination with Wocozim Kedan treatment about 1996 Kg.ha-1, and the lowest one
in cv. Jargalan at control treatment, i.e. Non application of any bio-promoters.

Sesamum indicum
Promoter Fertilizers
Seed Yield
Bio-fertilizers (BFs)

201x Agric. sci. dev. All rights reserved for TI Journals.

1.

Introduction

Sesame, Sesamum indicum (L.), has a wide genotypic diversity around the world with large adaptability behavior in its ecotypes. Generally
it is drought tolerant and has logic and worthwhile seed yield in dry and semi dry regions, with enough rainfall or supplementary irrigation.
Successful semi arid farming of this plant need the proper nutrients supply in soil and efficient uptake by plant (Weiss, 2000). The belief of
some researchers is, the sesame has little response to chemical fertilizers especially in its landraces, but it seems that this problem has
resolved in new improved lines (Moorthy et al, 1997). In recent years, soil organic materials and micronutrients have been reduced because
of intensive cultivation and continuous chemical fertilizers usage. It is approved that continuance of these conditions lead to destruction of
soil structure, loss of biological diversity and agro-ecosystem disorders (Prakash et al, 2003).
Application of bio-fertilizers and organic manures into the soil is redounded to increasing of sesame seed yield particularly in semi arid
regions (Weiss, 2000). These type of fertilizers affect soil microorganisms and their byproducts positively for better plant nutrients supply
and health ( Kloepper and Schrolh, 1978). Solubility of potassium, phosphorus, and producing of growth substances and hormones besides
of the other benefits of organic fertilizers are resulted to the promotion of plant growth, development and higher seed yield (Sturz and
Christie, 2003).
Yasari and Patwardham (2007) reported, using bio-fertilizers in canola increased seed yield by 21.7%. In peanut, organic fertilizers
accelerated seedling emergence and stablishment (Turner and Backman, 1989).
Based on several vouchers describing the improvement growth and yield of field crops after application of biological plant growth
promoters like as the report of Paul and Savithri (2003), we conducted this experiment in order to evaluate the effect of bio-fertilizers in
form of seed treatment plus spraying on yield related traits of sesame.

2.

Methodology

The experiment was carried out at research field of Islamic Azad University of Bojnourd, lies in 10 Km in east of city over the 2011
growing season. The soil was a well drained clay-loam soil with pH of 7.2 . The average annual rainfall in the experimental site was about
250 mm and its geographical features was altitude of 2838 N and longitudes of 2757 E.
A factorial experiment based on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and three replicates was used for this research framework.
Each replicate comprised of 12 plots, in each a combination of sesame genotypes and bio-fertilizers was considered. Genotypes (G) were
Oltan(O), Dashtestan(D) and landrace of Jargalan(J), and the bio-fertilizers (BFs) consisted of trade brands of Wocozim (W), Kedan (K)
and integrated use of both of them, which was applied as seed treatment plus spraying form in pre and after flowering stage. These BFs are
biological plant growth promoters originally. In control plots, we did not use any kind of BFs. Seed inoculation treatment was 0.5/1000
* Corresponding author.
Email address: meh_azizi2003@yahoo.com

Effect of Biological Plant Growth Promoters on Yield and Yield Components of Sesame

85

Agri culture Scienc e Developments , 2(9) Septe mber 2013

(v/v)on volume basis, after that seeds were dried in shade naturally just before planting. Additional BFs spraying on seed inoculated
treatments was done at further growth stages i.e. Pre and after flowering stage with the same dose. Sowing date was in mid May 2011. Plot
dimensions was 36 m2 with 6 planting ridges , each 55 cm spacing.
Data collection was performed at maturity stage for branch number per plant, number of capsules per plant, seeds per capsule, 1000 seed
weight, seed yield and seed harvest index, i.e. Economic seed yield divided to biological dry matter per unit area multiplied in 100.
Analysis of variance was carried out on above mentioned traits using SAS ver. 9.1 ( SAS, 1999). Means of treatments were separated using
Duncans Multiple Range Tests (DMRT) in common probability levels.

3.

Results and discussion

Results of analysis variance have shown in table 1.Also table 2, shows mean comparison of interaction effects for traits.
3.1 Branch number per plant
There was a significant difference (p0.05), for this trait between genotypes and BFs (table 1). Table 2, shows increasing of branch
numbers with using BFs. The highest branch number was achieved in integrated use of WK with 16 , and in control treatment the Oltan
with 5.33 had the lowest branch numbers. This distinct increasing of branch numbers indicate that plant growth promoters have an
important role on this yield component and then on final seed yield.
3.2 Number of capsules per plant
There was a significant difference (p0.05), for this trait between genotypes and BFs (table 1). Table 2, shows increasing of capsules
number under the interaction effect of WK so that genotypes of Dashtstan and Oltan had 127 and 124, the highest ones, and in control
treatment the Oltan and Jargalan with 90.6 and 85 capsules had the lowest numbers respectively. Capsules number per plant can be the
most important seed yield component even though its huge diversity and heredity ( OngIngo and Ayiecho, 2009; Ibrahim and Khidiri,
2012).
3.3 Seeds per capsule
There was a very significant difference (p0.01), for this trait between genotypes and BFs (table 1). With applying BFs the number of seeds
per capsule was increased. It had a range about 68-87.6 seeds per capsule in its highest level for Oltan and Jargalan . For Dashtstan
genotype the lowest seed number, i.e. 24.6 , was achieved in control treatment (table 2).
3.4 1000seed weight
There was a significant (p0.05),difference for this trait between genotypes and BFs (table 1). With applying BFs 1000seed weight was
increased. The highest weight was obtained in Jargalan genotype with 3.44 gram, but it was at the lowest level, 2.33 gram, for Oltan (table
2).
3.5 Seed yield and harvest index(HI)
Seed yield showed a very significant difference (p0.01), between genotypes and BFs too (table 1). Mean comparison for interaction
effects (table 2), also indicted seed yield increased after using plant growth promoters, so Oltan genotype had the highest seed yield about
1995.79 Kg.ha-1 under the interaction effects of WK application. The lowest seed yield belonged to Jargalan with 1006.6 Kg.ha -1.
Harvest Index also increased with application of BFs specially in Jargalan genotype from 8.9 in control treatment to 20.81 percent in
Wocozim treatment. This means plant growth promoters increase the translocation of assimilates into the growing seeds.

Table 1. Analysis of variance for seed yield, yield components and harvest index of sesame in various BFs application.

Sources of
variation

df

Branch pre
plant

Capsule per
plant

Seed per
capsule

1000
seed weight(gr)

Seed yield
(Kg.ha-1)

HI
(%)

Block
Genotype(G)
Wocozim(W)
GW
Kedan(K)
GK
WK
GWK
Error

2
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
22

17.5
56.2
38.1
6.3
200.7
20.1
10.1
0.86
2.4

61.5
128.2
2085.4
2.52
3173.4
30.2
49
12.2
16.9

9.3
533.6
1995.1
289.5
177.7
54.2
32.1
49.6
14.1

0.16
0.59
1.57
0.035
0.001
0.014
0.42
0.003
0.075

150.3
265302
990744
47817.2
504395
25075.7
571.9
46537.8
4421.4

5.88
11.6
224.9
12.53
1.54
3.89
83.6
8.76
4.30

Cv(%)

17.6

3.8

6.63

9.71

4.8

14.69

Numbers inside the table are mean squares of each traits, also and refers to significant difference in p0.05 & p0.01 respectively.

M.Azizi and E. Mahmoudabadi

86

Agricult ure Sci ence Devel opments, 2( 9) Sept e mber 2013

Table 2. Mean comparison of interaction effects for yield, yield components and harvest index of sesame in various BFs application.

Source of
variation

Branch
pre plant

Capsule
per plant

Seed per
capsule

1000seed
weight
(gr)

Seed
yield

O.W0. K0
O.W0. K1
O.W1. K0
O.W1. K1
D.W0. K0
D.W0. K1
D.W1. K0
D.W1. K1
J.W0. K0
J.W0. K1
J.W1. K0
J.W1. K1

5.3 f
9.6 cd
7.6 ef
10.6 c
4.6 g
14 b
10 c
16 a
8d e
8.3 de
6.3 fg
8.3 de

90.6 f
111.6 bcd
107 cde
124 a
90.3 f
112.6 bc
106 de
127 a
85 f
105e
105.6de
116.6 b

47.6 bc
53 bc
78.6 a
73.6 a
24.6 c
50.3 bc
52.6 bc
54 bc
47.3 bc
53.3 bc
56.6 b
68a

2.49 h
2.71 ef
3.18 b
3.01 c
2.22 i
2.57 gh
2.81 de
2.66 fg
2.71 ef
2.89 d
3.43 a
3.09 bc

1246.9 bcd
1045.3 bc
1569.2 b
1995.8 a
1063.3 cd
1254.1bcd
1326.8 bcd
1398.5 bcd
1006.6 d
1391.6 bcd
1440.1 bc
1628.1 b

HI
(%)

(Kg.ha-1 )

10.5 cd
14.8 bc
18.3 ab
15.8 abc
10.1 cd
12.5 cd
14.6 bc
14.6 bc
8.9 d
12.6 bcd
20.8 a
15.3 bc

Letters show the significant difference range between treatments in each column based on Duncans test.
Indices of 0 and 1, represent to without and with application of each kind of BFs.

4.

Conclusion

From this project, we can be concluded that biological plant growth promoters in form of bio-fertilizers can increase seed yield of sesame
cultivars. But the range of yield gain is very different between cultivars. BFs promote the development of yield related structures in crop
specially branch and capsule numbers per plant. Also partitioning of assimilates in seed setting stage is increased and then the bio-fertilized
plants get the higher harvest index. Because of direct relation between seed yield and HI, the yield increases too. In this experiment the
highest seed yield achieved from the combination of Oltan(Wokozim+Kedan application) interaction with 1995.8 Kg.ha-1 that had 50
percent more seed yield than the low yielded treatment, i.e. Jargalan ( no Wokozim+ no Kedan application). Based on these results, and
because of high chemical fertilizers costs for farmers, Bio-fertilizers can be replaced by them. In addition to , they had not any
environmental pollution and risks.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank from the financial support of Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd Branch, that facilitated our research processes.

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