Rapid Communication APPROPRIATE THRESHING PROCEDURE GUARANTEES ENHANCED GRAIN YIELD OF DEHISCENT SESAME (SESAMUM INDICUM L.)

Five post harvest threshing procedures were assessed for sesame var. E8 as follows: T1 – Control plants threshed once at one week after harvest (WAH), T2 – plants threshed twice at 1 and 2 WAH, T3 – plants threshed twice at 2 and 3 WAH, T4 – plants threshed twice at 3 and 4WAH and T5 – plants threshed twice at 4 and 5 WAH to determine its grain yield in the transition zone of southwest Nigeria. The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated three times. All sesame plants were harvested at physiological maturity (PM). Sesame plants threshed twice at 3 and 4 WAH and at 4–5 WAH recorded the highest grain yield (861 kg/ha) and 1000 seed weight (3.6 g), respectively. These values were signifi cantly higher than the other treatments with the control producing the lowest yield of 261 kg/ha and T2 the lowest 1000 seed weight (2.7 g). The results indicated that the capsules of sesame plants harvested at PM should be adequately dry to release the seeds when threshed twice at 3 and 4 WAH.