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This study evaluates eleven sesame accessions in Nigeria for performance and genetic diversity using morpho-agronomic traits, chlorophyll contents and nutrient composition in a complete randomized experimental design with five replicates. The results showed ‘Igboho Black’, ‘02M’ and ‘Kenan 4’ had the best growth attributes. Although ‘NGB0090’ and ‘Exsudan’ matured early, ‘E8’, ‘Bogoro Local’ and ‘Kenan 4’ had the best yield attributes. Seeds produced were predominantly milky-white, an accession had black seeds, while three produced white seeds. Plant height positively correlated with number of leaves and leaf area as well as peduncle length. Days to 50 % flowering positively correlates with days to maturity. So also the number of capsule per plant, capsule dimension and seeds per capsule. The moisture content in seeds of the accessions was < 3.5 %, ash (4.5-5.9 %), crude protein (5.3-7.4 %), fat and oil (53.6-60.5 %), and carbohydrate < 30 %. Out of the eight components that accounted for the observed variations, the PC-1 and PC-2 contributed 65.42 %. The dendrogram revealed that ‘NGB00960’ and ‘NGB00963’ which had ‘’Kenan 4’ as a distant member are the closest relatives, while ‘NGB00390’ and ‘01M’ are the most diverse. The study concludes that the accessions are genetically and phenotypically varied and the existing diversity can be harnessed for selecting high yielding and adaptable variety for the development of improved cultivars.

Genetic diversity information among a population is important in exploiting heterozygosity for the improvement of crop species through breeding programmes. This study was therefore, conducted to assess genetic diversity and establish molecular relationships among 20 selected exotic sugarcane accessions from the Unilorin Sugar Research Institute germplasm using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. Genomic DNA was extracted from the sugarcane leaf. Fragments amplification was then performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with ISSR markers and the data obtained were analyzed using MEGA 4 software. Analysis of the electropherogram showed a total of 39 loci consisting of 369 bands, out of which 95.8% were polymorphic. The biplot analysis showed all the markers contributed to the observed diversity with the least achieved with ISSR6. The principal co-ordinate analysis grouped the accessions into four clusters, comprising mixtures of all the six collection sites. The polymorphism obtained in the present study showed that the ISSR markers are effective for assessment of genetic diversity of the sugarcane accessions as it reveals the genetic similarity or divergence of the accessions regardless their place of origin or cultivation.

Sesame collections were evaluated for quantitative floral characters and data obtained were subjected to various statistical analyses. Result showed narrow diversity in most of the quantitative floral characters with moderate variability in length of flower (2.03-3.27 cm), length of style (1.10-1.40 cm), length of capsule (2.33-2.98 cm) and number of seeds per capsule (38.67 – 57.67). Correlation study revealed significantly (p < 0.01) positive correlations for length of ovary versus length of flower (r= 0.70) and length of capsule versus length of style (r= 0.77). The first two principal components accounted for 61.59 % of which the first component had 34.13 % and the second was 27.46 %. Dendrogram divided the seventeen accessions/landraces into two major groups (A and B). Group A had only one cluster with five members whilegroup B had three clusters (Cluster II, III and IV) with seven, three and two members respectively. Each accession within a cluster could be employed as baseline parent in crossbreeding for improvement of yield in Nigerian sesame.