GT 10
From Junagadh Agricultural University — suited to the irrigated summer window as much as kharif.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Sesame (Til)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Zaid / summer
- Maturity period
- 92–95 days
- Expected yield
- 6–8 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Disease resistance
- Moderate leaf curl tolerance
- Release
- Released 2002 by the Agricultural Research Station, Amreli (Junagadh Agricultural University), developed by selection from TNAU 17
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
GT 10 (Gujarat Til 10) was released for commercial cultivation in 2002 by the Agricultural Research Station at Amreli, a sesame-breeding centre under Junagadh Agricultural University. It was developed by selection from the line TNAU 17. It is a black-seeded variety with profuse branching and medium plant height of around 120 cm. Reports give 92–95 days to maturity, which is the figure shown above; it comes from trial and release summaries, not from a university release sheet. Its standout trait is field resistance to Phytophthora blight: in coordinated varietal trials under heavy disease pressure it showed only 3.74–5.92% disease intensity, well below susceptible checks.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose GT 10 if you farm in Gujarat, your buyer pays for black til, or Phytophthora blight has hit your sesame before. It is the only sesame here with a measured blight result from coordinated trials; every other page carries just a tolerance label, such as RT-346's for root rot or TKG-22's for leaf spot. The price is time: it is the longest crop of the seven, where TMV 7 takes 80–90 days and RT 351 and TKG-22 take 80–85. Plan for 6–8 q/ha, no better than TMV 7's 7.4–9.2, and note that the station peak of 1,671 kg/ha was under rainfed conditions at Amreli. Choose TMV 7 instead if you want brown seed and a variety tested in both rainfed and irrigated trials, or RT 351 if you farm Rajasthan's dry belt.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeKharif: last week of June to the second fortnight of July. Semi-rabi: mid September. Summer: second fortnight of February (AICRP sesame package, Gujarat)
- Spacing60 x 15 cm for the kharif and semi-rabi crops, and 30 x 10 cm for the summer crop
- FertilizerKharif 50:25:40 kg NPK per ha with 15–20 kg sulphur per ha, semi-rabi 25:12.5:0, and summer 50:25:0. Where the package gives no split, put half the nitrogen and all the phosphorus and potash in at sowing and the other half of the nitrogen 30–35 days after sowing, when the soil is moist
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- Field-resistant to Phytophthora blight — 3.74–5.92% disease intensity recorded in coordinated varietal trials under high disease pressure, well below susceptible checks
- Leaf curl tolerance, shown in the rating above, has no separate trial result behind it. Treat Phytophthora blight as the proven strength and watch for leaf curl yourself
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Black seed colour, valued in some til markets as a distinct product from the more common white/brown sesame
- Recorded yield potential up to 1,671 kg/ha under rainfed conditions at Amreli, above the conservative 6–8 q/ha shown above
Things to consider
- The 92–95 day duration shown above is a reported figure, not one from a release sheet. The trial-station yield peak (up to 1,671 kg/ha) is well above the 6–8 q/ha shown above, so plan on the lower yield and treat the peak as what a good rainfed plot can reach.
- The figures here come from summaries of the variety's release and trials, not from a Junagadh Agricultural University release sheet. Ask your local agriculture office for the current seed and sowing advice before you buy.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Gujarat
Plan for the longer days and the lower yield
Reports give 92–95 days, and that is the figure on the card. You will also see 85–90 days in some places; allow the longer time. If you cut at 85 days, you lose the capsules that are still unripe, and the seed in them is light.
The yield story has two numbers too. The safe figure to plan on is 6–8 q/ha. The station figure of up to 1,671 kg/ha, which is 16.71 q/ha, was a rainfed result at Amreli. Treat it as what a very good plot can reach.
Black til is a separate product from the common white or brown sesame. Before you sow, ask your buyer whether he pays more for it. If he does not, the lower yield of GT 10 has nothing to pay for it, and a brown-seeded variety is the simpler choice.
Can you keep your own planting material?
This is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from a healthy crop of your own can be sown again. Keep seed only from disease-free plants, dry it properly, store it cool and dry, and bring in fresh certified seed every three to four years so the variety does not drift.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Sesame (Til) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT 10this page | The black-seeded sesame with proven Phytophthora blight resistance, for Gujarat | 92–95 days | 6–8 q/ha | Gujarat |
| RT 351 | The multicapsular Rajasthan sesame: several capsules per leaf axil, notified for the hot, arid zone | 80–85 days | 5–7 q/ha | Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh |
| RT-346 | A steady rainfed sesame for Rajasthan, chosen for stability across seasons, not for a published peak yield | 82–88 days | Medium–high | Rajasthan |
| Swetha (TMV-3 type) | A white-seeded sesame for buyers who pay for pale til, with a December sowing pattern from the Tirupati trials | 82–86 days | 750–800 kg/ha (AICRP sesame package) | Andhra Pradesh |
| TC-25 | A white-seeded, early sesame with 50–52% oil, best documented for July sowing in Punjab | 75–82 days; 80–85 for a July sowing in Punjab | Medium | Uttar Pradesh |
| TKG-22 | The long-standing Madhya Pradesh check variety: steady, well understood, with capsules that ripen together | 80–85 days | Medium–high | Madhya Pradesh |
| TMV 7 | The brown, high-oil sesame that fits every Tamil Nadu season: 80–90 days and tolerant to root rot | 80–90 days | 7.4–9.2 q/ha | Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Sesame (Til) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Sesame (Til) plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Sesame (Til) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Sesame (Til) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Sesame (Til) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Sesame (Til) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Sesame (Til) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is GT 10 sometimes called a black sesame variety?
Its seed coat is black, distinguishing it from the white-seeded RT 351 and brown-seeded TMV 7 — a trait some til markets pay a premium for.
Is GT 10 really an irrigated summer (zaid) variety?
The research behind its release (Phytophthora blight resistance trials, yield at Amreli) was reported under rainfed conditions, but Junagadh Agricultural University markets it for both zaid and kharif sowing.
How resistant is GT 10 to Phytophthora blight?
In coordinated varietal trials under high disease pressure it showed 3.74–5.92% disease intensity, well below susceptible checks. Resistance lowers the risk but does not remove it, so still avoid sowing in low corners where water stands.
How tall does GT 10 grow, and how does it branch?
It is a medium-height plant, around 120 cm, with profuse branching. Because it branches freely, do not sow it too thick: give each plant room for its branches.
What yield can I expect from GT 10?
The card shows 6–8 q/ha, which is a safe figure to plan on. At Amreli, under rainfed conditions, the variety reached up to 1,671 kg/ha. Treat that as what a good plot can reach, not as the usual result.
GT 10 or TMV 7 — which sesame should I take?
It depends on your state and your buyer. GT 10 is the Gujarat variety, black-seeded, with proven Phytophthora blight resistance, and should be planned at 92–95 days and 6–8 q/ha. TMV 7 is the brown, high-oil variety for Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, 80–90 days, tested in both rainfed and irrigated trials. In Gujarat, take GT 10.
Will a buyer pay more for GT 10's black seed?
Only if your buyer asks for black til. Black seed is valued in some til markets as a distinct product from the more common white and brown, but no price premium is published, so do not assume one. Ask your buyer or mandi what they pay for black against brown before you choose GT 10 on colour alone.
Sourced from: Improved Technology for Maximizing Production of Sesame — AICRP on Sesame and Niger, ICAR (Ranganatha and others, revised 2013): Tables 3, 8 and 9 (sowing time, spacing and fertiliser by state). editorial policy.