Effect of Temperature and Daylength on Flowering and Growth Characteristics

Sesame is typically a temperatureand day length-sensitive plant, as its flowering is promoted under high temperature and shorter day length conditions. The experiment carried out in the present study revealed that day length influenced sesame flowering to a much greater extent than temperature. The degree of day length influence differed depending on the sesame variety. Days from sowing to flowering was negatively correlated with yield-related characteristics such as stem length, capsule number per plant, 1,000 seed weight, and seed weight per 10a. In cases where the period from sowing to flowering was longer and flowering date was later, the reproductive growth period was shorter during maturity. Analysis of the effects of temperature and day length on seed yield production revealed that temperature was a much more influential factor than day length. However, day length was more influential than temperature under low temperatures, such as 22°C. All varieties apart from Ansan were shown to be primarily influenced by temperature. Sesame varieties were grouped in view of optimal seed sowing time through principal components analysis. The Poongsung and Sungboon varieties favored early sowing under low temperatures and short day lengths. The DT45, Poongsung, 90 days, Ansan, and Sungboon varieties favored late sowing under high temperatures and long day lengths. The Yangbaek and Arum varieties could be sown both early and late.