Nutritional Genetics and Functional Properties of Sesame Crops
Summary
Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is valued both as a high-quality oilseed and as a source of bioactive compounds with health-promoting effects. Advances in nutritional genetics have centred on decoding the sesame genome, constructing high-resolution genetic maps and identifying loci that govern oil content, fatty acid composition, seed coat pigmentation and lignan biosynthesis. Concurrently, functional studies have elucidated the biochemical pathways and molecular mechanisms underpinning sesame’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering and anticancer activities. Integration of genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics is driving marker-assisted breeding and biotechnological strategies to enhance both yield and nutraceutical quality. Globally, these efforts support food security, value-added product development and the expansion of smallholder livelihoods in diverse agro-ecological settings.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Seminal genome-wide resequencing of hundreds of sesame accessions generated a comprehensive haplotype map, enabling the discovery of dozens of loci associated with oil biosynthesis, fatty acid profiles and seed coat traits. Candidate genes underlying key agronomic traits—including enzymes of oil metabolism and regulators of lignification—have been proposed, laying the foundation for precision breeding of high-oil and high-quality cultivars. In parallel, mechanistic work on sesamol, a major sesame lignan, has demonstrated its ability to induce apoptotic pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma models by impairing mitochondrial function and suppressing autophagy, thus providing a molecular rationale for the anticancer potential of sesame-derived phytochemicals.
Nutritional Genetics and Functional Properties of Sesame Crops publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nutritional genetics and functional properties of sesame crops across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Quantitative trait locus (QTL): A genomic region statistically associated with variation in a measurable trait.
Haplotype map: A representation of common combinations of genetic variants across a population.
Lignan: A plant-derived phenolic compound, such as sesamin or sesamol, with bioactive properties.
Metabolomics: The comprehensive analysis of small-molecule metabolites in biological samples.
Transcriptomics: The study of the complete set of RNA transcripts produced by a genome under specific conditions.
References
- The Emerging Oilseed Crop Sesamum indicum Enters the “Omics” Era. Frontiers in Plant Science (2017).
- Genetic discovery for oil production and quality in sesame. Nature Communications (2015).
- Sesamol Induces Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Apoptosis by Impairing Mitochondrial Function and Suppressing Autophagy. Scientific Reports (2017).
- Biochemical and Molecular Insights into Variation in Sesame Seed Antioxidant Capability as Revealed by Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Analysis. Antioxidants (2024).
- Lignans of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): A Comprehensive Review. Molecules (2021).
- Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): A Comprehensive Review of Nutritional Value, Phytochemical Composition, Health Benefits, Development of Food, and Industrial Applications. Nutrients (2022).
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