Entity Display : <I>Sesamum indicum</I> L.

Record originally contributed by FAO

Sesamum indicum L.

Contributor:Peter Griffee
QA and TEM

Plant

ID: 1937

Introduction

Peter Griffee

Oleagineux

Authority	L.

ID Standing

Family	Magnoliophyta : Magnoliopsida : Scrophulariales : Pedaliaceae (see lineages)

Topic Editors Data Stewards Referees

Synonyms

Common names	ajonjoli, gergelim, goma, hu-ma, kunzhut, selit, sesam, sesam, sesam, sesame (full list)

Codes

Categories	Crop plant

Roles	Host

Description	Peter Griffee	2001-02-08
It is typically an erect, branched annual herb 30 to 215 cm tall. There are many varieties and strains which differ considerably in size, form, growth, flower colour, seed size, colour and composition.

Morphology	Roots: The long season sesame types have a taproot and an extensive root system and the short season varieties a more shallow one. Edaphoclimatic conditions have a great influence on the phenotypic expression of root growth. Stems: The stem is erect, normally square in section with distinct longditudional furrows and is glabrous or pubescent. Flat-section stems occur. Colour ranges from light green to almost purple, being mostly dark green. The extent of branching is a varietal characteristic as is height of the first branch, this, and growth in general, is readily affected by environment. Leaves: There is a wide variation in shape and size in the same plant and between varieties. Lower leaves tend to be broad, sometimes lobed, margins often outwardly toothed. Intermediate leaves are entire, lanceolate and sometimes serrate. Upper leaves are more narrow and lanceolate. They may be opposite or alternate in different varieties or can be opposite below and alternate above in others. Leaf arrangement is important as it affects the number of flowers born in axils and thus optimum seed yield per plant. Leaf size varies from 3 to 18 cm long by 1 to 2 cm wide and the petiole 1 to 5 cm long. The colour is a dull dark green but can be lighter with a yellowish hue. All are pubescent and mucilaginous to a certain degree and pubescent leaves may appear bluish on fertile soils. Flowers:Tubular flowers arise in the leaf axils on the upper part of stems and branches. The node number on which the first flower is produced is a varietal characteristic and highly heritable. They normally occur singly and are borne on short peduncles and have a 5 lobed corolla the lower being the longest. Corolla colour is usually white or very pale pink but can be darker, even purple. Fruits: The fruit is a capsule, normally pubescent, rectangular in section and deeply grooved with a short triangular beak. Capsule length varies from 2 to 8 cm and width from 0.5 to 2 cm and the number of loculi from 4 to 12. It dehisces by splitting along the septa from top to bottom or by means of two apical pores. The degree of dehiscence is a varietal characteristic and of great importance in breeding for mechanised harvesting as is the insertion height of the first capsule. Seeds: Seeds are small, 3-4 mm long by 2 wide and 1 thick, ovate slightly flattened and somewhat thinner at the hilum than at the opposite end. Weight of 1000 seeds is between 2 and 4 g. The testa may be smooth or ribbed, black, white, yellow, reddish-brown or grey. White seeds are market preferred.

Morphology

Roots: The long season sesame types have a taproot and an extensive root system and the short season varieties a more shallow one. Edaphoclimatic conditions have a great influence on the phenotypic expression of root growth.

Stems: The stem is erect, normally square in section with distinct longditudional furrows and is glabrous or pubescent. Flat-section stems occur. Colour ranges from light green to almost purple, being mostly dark green. The extent of branching is a varietal characteristic as is height of the first branch, this, and growth in general, is readily affected by environment.

Leaves: There is a wide variation in shape and size in the same plant and between varieties. Lower leaves tend to be broad, sometimes lobed, margins often outwardly toothed. Intermediate leaves are entire, lanceolate and sometimes serrate. Upper leaves are more narrow and lanceolate. They may be opposite or alternate in different varieties or can be opposite below and alternate above in others. Leaf arrangement is important as it affects the number of flowers born in axils and thus optimum seed yield per plant. Leaf size varies from 3 to 18 cm long by 1 to 2 cm wide and the petiole 1 to 5 cm long. The colour is a dull dark green but can be lighter with a yellowish hue. All are pubescent and mucilaginous to a certain degree and pubescent leaves may appear bluish on fertile soils.

Flowers:Tubular flowers arise in the leaf axils on the upper part of stems and branches. The node number on which the first flower is produced is a varietal characteristic and highly heritable. They normally occur singly and are borne on short peduncles and have a 5 lobed corolla the lower being the longest. Corolla colour is usually white or very pale pink but can be darker, even purple.

Fruits: The fruit is a capsule, normally pubescent, rectangular in section and deeply grooved with a short triangular beak. Capsule length varies from 2 to 8 cm and width from 0.5 to 2 cm and the number of loculi from 4 to 12. It dehisces by splitting along the septa from top to bottom or by means of two apical pores. The degree of dehiscence is a varietal characteristic and of great importance in breeding for mechanised harvesting as is the insertion height of the first capsule.

Seeds: Seeds are small, 3-4 mm long by 2 wide and 1 thick, ovate slightly flattened and somewhat thinner at the hilum than at the opposite end. Weight of 1000 seeds is between 2 and 4 g. The testa may be smooth or ribbed, black, white, yellow, reddish-brown or grey. White seeds are market preferred.

Anatomy

Physiology	The growth is indeterminate. Oil synthesis occurs between 12 to 24 days after flowering with the FFA percent at its maximum at the beginning. Dry matter content increases most rapidly in the same period and continues until maturity.

Ecology	Peter Griffee

Habitat	Sesame is basically a rainfed crop of the semi-arid tropics and sub-tropics. The African savannahs are well suited for its cultivation.

Environment

Latitude: The main distribution is between 25^oS and 25^oN but can be found growing up to 40^oN in China, Russia and the USA and 35^oS in South America.

Altitude: It is normally found below 1250 masl although local varieties may be adapted up to 1500 masl and above.

Temperature: Sesame normally requires hot conditions to produce maximum yields and 2700 heat units are required during the critical 3-4 month growth period. Below 10^oC germination is inhibited, 25 to 27^oC encourages germination. A frost-free growth period of about 150 days is needed for maturation. The optimal adaptation range is 20^oC minimum and 30^oC maximum with limits of 10-40^oC.

Water: The plant is reasonably drought resistant and very susceptible to waterlogging at any growth stage. Once established it is capable of withstanding a higher degree of water stress than many other cultivated plants. However the seedling stage is very susceptible to moisture shortage. It will produce a very good crop with 500-600 mm of rain. The optimal rainfall range is 500-1000 mm with limits of 300-1500.

Radiation:

Range & intensity: It requires very bright light intensity variation in which has a considerable morphogenetic effect on sesame.

Photoperiodism: It is basically a short day plant and with a twelve hour day will normally flower in 42-45 days. Biotic conditions, particularly humidity, may dominate the optimum planting time in relation to photoperiodism.

Effect of photoperiod on growth of sesame - India

Treatment (hours)	Time to bud initiation (days)	Time of flower initiation (days)	Height at flowering (cm)
12.5-13.5	68	92	122
10	26	43	50

Weiss E.A. 1983

Wind: Tall varieties are susceptible to wind damage as are more sturdy but dehiscent varieties which shatter with high winds.

Soil: Sesame grows well on a variety of soil types but (as with most crops) thrives best on those which are moderately fertile and well drained.

Physical: Shallow soils with an impervious subsoil are not suitable for sesame, otherwise it is adapted to a wide range of soil types. this is due more to adaptation between varieties than a characteristic of the genus. The most suitable soils are loams but it will grow on sandy and clay soils.

Chemical: It is very susceptible to salinity, salt concentrations that would have little effect on safflower or cotton are fatal to sesame. The optimal requirement is 4 dS/m. It will grow on soils with a pH of 5.5-8 but at the higher pH soil structure becomes more critical.

Distribution

Pollination	Sesame is normally 90% autogamous but insect pollination is common and wind pollination uncommon. Up to 50% outcrossing can occur in specific cultivars. Ninety percent of flowers open between 5 and 7 am, wilt after midday and are normally shed between 16.30 and 18.00. Anthers open longditudionally and release pollen shortly after. The stigma is receptive 1 day prior to flower opening and remains receptive for 24 hours.

Pollination

Sesame is normally 90% autogamous but insect pollination is common and wind pollination uncommon. Up to 50% outcrossing can occur in specific cultivars. Ninety percent of flowers open between 5 and 7 am, wilt after midday and are normally shed between 16.30 and 18.00. Anthers open longditudionally and release pollen shortly after. The stigma is receptive 1 day prior to flower opening and remains receptive for 24 hours.

Services

Status

Ethnobotany	Peter Griffee	2000-03-17
Etymology: The Egyptian name for sesame (sesemt) is mentioned in the list of medicinal drugs recorded in the 20 m long scroll of the Ebers Papyrus dated about 1550 B.C. Mythology: In the tale of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves, in the 'Thousand and One Nights' the password 'open sesame' may have been chosen because the ripe seeds burst from their pods suddenly with a sharp 'pop' like the springing open of a lock. Sociology: Use: Sesame may be the oldest condiment known to humankind and is probably the oldest crop grown for edible oil; production records for the Tigris and Euphrates valleys date back to 1600 B.C. Archeological diggings in Turkey indicate that the seed was grown and pressed to extract oil between 900-700 B.C. in the empire of Urartu. For modern uses please see 'Products and Uses' under the category 'Crop'. Parts used: The seed.

Notes	Peter Griffee

Bibliography	Peter Griffee	1999-10-29
FAOSTAT-Sesame (2000) Eleven-year global sesame seed production and productivity Kobayashi T (1980) The type classification of sesame based on genetic characters. Srivastava SSL Rai M Singh DV (1997) Epidemiological study on bacterial blight of sesame.

Links	Peter Griffee