Effects of irrigation cut-off in different stages on yield and yield components of sesame cultivars

In order to investigate drought stress at different phenological stages on yield and yield components of different sesame cultivars, a split plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications on a private farm in Miami (Shahroud County, Semnan Province). Factors were drought stress time (in vegetative, flowering and seeding growth stages) as the main factor and three sesame cultivars (Darab, Oltan and Dashtestan) as sub factor. The results indicated that the highest (517 kg.ha-1) and lowest (456 kg.ha-1) seed yield was obtained in irrigation cut-off at seeding and vegetative growth, respectively. There was a significant difference among sesame cultivars in all the evaluated characteristics except the number of seeds per capsule. Oltan cultivar had the highest grain yield (594 kg.ha-1) and oil yield (146 kg.ha-1) compared to Darab and Dashtestan cultivars. However, in irrigation cut-off at seeding stage, Darab cultivar had the highest grain yield (719 kg.ha-1) and oil yield (207 kg.ha-1). While Dashtestan cultivar in the same conditions showed the lowest grain yield (251 kg.ha-1) and oil yield (57 kg.ha-1). Overall, the results showed that Oltan cultivar has a higher relative resistance to drought stress in different stages, so this cultivar is recommended for this region and similar situations.