Registration of “Hachalu” (EW006 x EW003 (1)-4-2-1) Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Variety

Abstract

Hachalu is a name given to a newly released sesame variety developed by Bako Agricultural Research Center and released in June 2021. Selection of this variety was made among recombinant inbred lines of sesame developed through pedigree breeding method. The two parents of the selected variety were collected from western Oromia of Ethiopia. This variety was selected out of fifteen inbred lines that were tested along with standard check Walin at three locations for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) main cropping seasons. Hachalu was the best high yielding variety and the most stable among all lines for its grain yield performance and has resistance to bacterial blight which is very challenging for sesame production in the country. In addition to this, hachalu’s oil content is high (54.9%) and has white seed color which has a great role in the market class. For these reasons, the variety was released for commercial production in major sesame growing areas of western Oromia and other similar agro-ecologies.