The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of water deficit during the vegetative stage and to flowering on the morpho-physiological and agronomic responses of four varieties and six sesame descendants (Sesamum indicum L.). The plants were grown in a greenhouse under three water treatments: a continuous water supply (S0), a water supply with a 14-day suspension at the vegetative stage (S1) and a water supply with a 14-day interruption at flowering (S2). Plant height, relative water content, total chlorophyll content, leaf content of mineral elements (Na, K and Mg), number of capsules, number of seeds per capsule, thousand seeds weight and Total dry biomass were determined. Water stress caused total height and total dry biomass reduction in all plant varieties and stressed descendants at the vegetative stage and bloom. In addition, all varieties and descendants expressed their response to water deficit by a reduction in foliar content in water and an increase in the total chlorophyll content of the mineral matter, in particular Na, K and Mg. Water stress caused total height and total dry biomass reduction in all plant varieties and stressed lines at the vegetative stage and bloom. Under the effect of water stress, both at the vegetative and flowering stages, the S-42 variety and the descendants produced well filled capsules. As for variety 32-15, the filling of its capsules was not complete but the weight of its thousand seeds was higher. This shows that varieties and lines have shown different responses to water deficit in terms of yields in capsules and seeds. Thus, variety S-42 and all descendants were more tolerant of water shortage compared to varieties 32-15, Humera and Wollega.

Sesame, Varieties, Descendants, Tolerance, Water stress