Evaluation of rabi season sesame productivity from graded nutrient doses and tillage regimes in rice fallows of southern plateau and hills region of the Indian sub-continent.

Background: Only scattered information is available on the tillage and nutrient management information for the sesame crop following rice in the literature. Sesame as an edible oil yielding crop with high levels of unsaturated fatty acids has high international demand due to superior health benefits. Being a small seeded crop, it requires standard tillage and nutrient management to obtain optimum productivity under rice fallow ecologies. As a sequential crop after rice harvest, the tillage and nutrient management practices followed for the preceding rice have astounding effects on the succeeding sesame crop. To better understand and manipulate the agro ecology in the rice fallow culture, it is necessary to study the behaviour of sesame cultivars, in relation to the tillage requirements and macro nutrient factors that have a bearing on the productivity. Methods: The aim of this work was to evaluate the productivity of rice fallow sesame in the southern plateau and hills regions of the Indian sub-continent (Tamil Nadu) with a hypothesis that tillage and nutrient management would immensely benefit the sesame crop. Field experiments were conducted at TNAU, Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduturai, Tamil Nadu during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 with tillage practices (reduced tillage, conventional tillage and zero tillage) and fertilizer doses (zero percent RDF, 25% RDF, 50% RDF, 75% RDF and 100% RDF) in a split plot design replicated thrice. Results: The results have clearly indicated that the performance of rice fallow sesame was poor under zero till conditions as the sesame crop is poorly adapted leading to a yield penalty up to 68%. A total of 75% RDF has yielded statistically similar yield to that of 100% RDF to the rice fallow sesame. Further, neither the oil content nor the fatty acid composition was modified by tillage and nutrient management regimes.

Overexpression of sesame O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase induces male sterility by delaying tapetum programmed cell death.

Male sterile lines are key resources for hybrid seed production and for ensuring high varietal purity. However, the genes and mechanisms underlying sesame male sterility remain largely unknown. Hence, this study identified an O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase gene SiOASTL1 and functionally characterized its roles in inducing defective anther development. Spatiotemporal expression analysis revealed that SiOASTL1 is significantly (2.7 fold) up-regulated in sterile sesame anthers at the microspore stage compared with fertile ones. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that SiOASTL1 is homologous to Arabidopsis OAS-TL plastid isoforms. We thus overexpressed SiOASTL1 in Arabidopsis to unravel its regulatory roles. Cytological observation revealed that SiOASTL1 overexpression transformed transgenic plants into male sterile lines arising at the microspore development stage. SiOASTL1 overexpression decreased cysteine biosynthesis and down-regulated the expression of the sporopollenin synthesis-related genes, including AtTKPR1, AtTKPR2, AtPKSA, and AtPKSB in transgenic Arabidopsis. Consequently, the tapetum programmed cell death (PCD) was delayed, resulting in the formation of defective pollen grains with irregular walls and empty cytoplasm. Our findings prove that the induction of SiOASTL1 expression disrupts pollen development and contributes to sesame male sterility. Moreover, these results suggest that genetic manipulation of SiOASTL1 expression may facilitate the development of new hybrid varieties in sesame and other crops.

Sesame Detection in Food Using DNA-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles: A Sensitive, Rapid, and Cost-Effective Colorimetric Approach.

Food safety control is a key issue in the food and agriculture industries. For such purposes, developing miniaturized analytical methods is critical for enabling the rapid and sensitive detection of food supplements, allergens, and pollutants. Here, a novel bioanalytical methodology based on DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and colorimetric detection was developed to detect the presence of sesame (a major allergen) through sesame seed DNA as a target, in food samples. The presence of sesame DNA induces controlled nanoparticle aggregation/desegregation, resulting in a color change (from blue to red) proportional to sesame DNA concentration. The incorporation of multicomponent nucleic acid enzymes (MNAzymes) in this strategy has been carried out to perform an isothermal signal amplification strategy to improve the sensitivity of detection. Also, open-source software for color analysis was used to ensure an unbiased visual color-change detection, enhancing detection accuracy and sensitivity and opening the possibility of performing a simple and decentralized analyte detection. The method successfully detected the presence of sesame DNA in sesame seed, sesame oil, olive oil, and sunflower oil. In brief, the developed approach constitutes a simple and affordable alternative to perform a highly sensitive detection of DNA in food without complex methodologies or the requirement of expensive instrumentation.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose sesame oral immunotherapy in paediatric patients: a protocol for a single-centre, randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Sesame allergy, though with low prevalence, can result in severe, potentially life-threatening reactions and poses challenges in allergen avoidance due to hidden sources. In the majority of patients, sesame allergy persists and there is currently no effective long-term treatment available. Therefore, oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising alternative approach to managing sesame allergy. In this study protocol, we present a randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of OIT with low-dose sesame protein in paediatric patients. The study's aim is to compare OIT with a 300 mg maintenance dose of sesame protein against controls. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 39 participants aged 3-17 with IgE-mediated sesame allergy confirmed by oral food challenge will be enrolled into the study. The trial will be conducted at the Paediatric Hospital of the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. The study comprises two arms-sesame OIT and control. In the sesame OIT group, interventions will be administered once daily for up to 18 months. During the first phase, the dose will be escalated every 2-4 weeks, and in the second phase, the maintenance dose of 300 mg sesame protein will continue for 3 months. Members of the control group will receive standard treatment, which includes an elimination diet and will remain under observation for 1 year. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants tolerating a single dose of 4000 mg of sesame protein during the final oral food challenge in the experimental group versus the control group. Secondary outcomes assess adverse events, changes in immunological parameters and the maximum tolerated doses of sesame protein in each group. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Warsaw (approval number: KB/269/2023). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated via presentations at international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06261554.

Refining flowering date enhances sesame yield independently of day-length.

BACKGROUND: The transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is a key factor in yield maximization. Sesame (Sesamum indicum), an indeterminate short-day oilseed crop, is rapidly being introduced into new cultivation areas. Thus, decoding its flowering mechanism is necessary to facilitate adaptation to environmental conditions. In the current study, we uncover the effect of day-length on flowering and yield components using F 2 populations segregating for previously identified quantitative trait loci (Si_DTF QTL) confirming these traits. RESULTS: Generally, day-length affected all phenotypic traits, with short-day preceding days to flowering and reducing yield components. Interestingly, the average days to flowering required for yield maximization was 50 to 55 days, regardless of day-length. In addition, we found that Si_DTF QTL is more associated with seed-yield and yield components than with days to flowering. A bulk-segregation analysis was applied to identify additional QTL differing in allele frequencies between early and late flowering under both day-length conditions. Candidate genes mining within the identified major QTL intervals revealed two flowering-related genes with different expression levels between the parental lines, indicating their contribution to sesame flowering regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the essential role of flowering date on yield components and will serve as a basis for future sesame breeding.

Influences of thioalcohols on the release of aromas in sesame-flavor baijiu.

This study investigated the interactions between 2-furylmethanethiol, benzenemethanethiol, and 18 skeletal aroma-active compounds as well as four aroma notes in sesame-flavor baijiu based on the Feller Additive Model, the Odor Activity Value (OAV) Approach, and the Sigma-Tau (σ-τ) plots. In addition, a predictive model for the interactions between 2-furylmethanethiol and esters was developed, and the determinants of the interaction results in complex systems were explored. The results reveal that both thioalcohols interacted with the skeletal aroma-active compounds in a similar trend, where 2-furylmethanethiol tends to enhance the release of fruit and acid aroma. Moreover, the intensity of the thiols and their intensity ratio to the notes were the determinants of the interaction results in the multivariate blended system, with the lower the concentration of the thiols, the closer the ratio was to 1, and the more likely that additive interactions would take place. Predictive modeling showed that 2-furylmethanethiols were more likely to have additive or synergistic effects with esters when the olfactory thresholds of the esters were between 75.86 and 199.53 µg/L. Conversely, masking effects were more likely.

Chemical and structural transformations of lignin in sesame seed hull during roasting.

To investigate the mechanism of lignin degradation during sesame roasting, structural transformations of milled wood lignin (MWL) from sesame seed hull samples roasted at 190-250 °C for 30 min were investigated. The findings revealed that, with increasing temperature, the degradation extent of carbohydrates from lignin carbohydrate complex in the fractions deepened, which reduced total sugar content (from 8.59 % to 0.45 %). Compared to that of the original sesame seed hull lignin (LSSH), the molecular weight of MWL fractions showed a tendency to decline (Mw 4377-2235 Da) with the rise of roasting temperature (210-250 °C). During roasting, lignins in the sesame seed hull underwent degradation and condensation. Due to demethoxylation, the H-type lignin proportion increased from 2.7 % to 26.1 %. Compared to G- and C-type lignin, S-type lignin was more stable. The ß-O-4 linkages decreased from 5.8 to 1.2/100 Ar due to CO bond breaking, and ß-ß linkages from 26.3 to 9.6/100 Ar decreased due to condensation of CC. As the roasting temperature increased, more chemical bonds between lignin structural units were broken, resulting in the generation of more phenolic hydroxyl groups (1.80-2.53 mmol/g). This study helps to elucidate the contribution of lignin degradation during roasting to the oxidative stability of sesame oil.

Arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides production from unexploited agro-industrial sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) hulls waste.

This work demonstrates that sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) hull, an unexploited food industrial waste, can be used as an efficient source for the extraction of hemicellulose and/or pectin polysaccharides to further obtain functional oligosaccharides. Different polysaccharides extraction methods were surveyed including alkaline and several enzymatic treatments. Based on the enzymatic release of xylose, arabinose, glucose, and galacturonic acid from sesame hull by using different enzymes, Celluclast®1.5 L, Pectinex®Ultra SP-L, and a combination of them were selected for the enzymatic extraction of polysaccharides at 50 °C, pH 5 up to 24 h. Once the polysaccharides were extracted, Ultraflo®L was selected to produce arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides (AXOS) at 40 °C up to 24 h. Apart from oligosaccharides production from extracted polysaccharides, alternative approaches for obtaining oligosaccharides were also explored. These were based on the analysis of the supernatants resulting from the polysaccharide extraction, alongside a sequential hydrolysis performed with Celluclast®1.5 L and Ultraflo®L of the starting raw sesame hull. The different fractions obtained were comprehensively characterized by determining low molecular weight carbohydrates and monomeric compositions, average Mw and dispersity, and oligosaccharide structure by MALDI-TOF-MS. The results indicated that sesame hull can be a useful source for polysaccharides extraction (pectin and hemicellulose) and derived oligosaccharides, especially AXOS.

Sesame lignans modulate aroma formation in sesame oil through the Maillard reaction and lipid oxidation in model systems.

The unknown effect of sesame lignans on aroma formation in sesame oil via the Maillard reaction (MR) and lipid oxidation was investigated. Sesamin, sesamolin, or sesamol was added to 3 models: lysine+glucose (MR), cold-pressed sesame oil (SO), and MR + SO, and were heated at 120 °C for 60 min. All three lignans suppressed SO oxidation while increasing DPPH scavenging ability (p < 0.05). Lignans increased depletions of lysine and glucose and MR browning (p < 0.05). Lignans reduced most aroma-active pyrazines, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and esters (p < 0.05). Sesamol and sesamolin increased perceptions of the preferable aromas of nutty, roasted sesame, and popcorn while reducing the undesirable green and rancid aromas (p < 0.05). Sesamol demonstrated a stronger effect on lipid oxidation, MR browning, aroma formation, and sensory perception than sesamin and sesamolin. This study suggests that sesame lignans can modulate aroma formation and sensory perception of sesame oil by interacting with the MR and lipid oxidation pathways.

Flavonoid-rich sesame leaf extract-mediated synthesis of nanozymes: Extraction optimization, chemical composition identification and bioactivity evaluation.

Sesame leaves contain rich phenolic acids and flavonoids. However, their potential in nanozyme synthesis has not been investigated yet. Herein, we report the preparation of flavonoid-rich sesame leaf extract (SLE), composition identification, and its use in the construction of iron (Fe)-based nanozymes (Fe-SLE CPNs). SLE was obtained with an extraction yield of ∼14.5% with a total flavonoid content (TFC) of ∼850.85 mg RE/g. There were 83 flavonoid compounds in SLE, primarily including scutellarin, apigenin-7-glucuronid, narcissin, and hyperoside. Fe-SLE CPNs exhibited nanodot morphology with a hydrodynamic size of 79.34 nm and good stability in various physiological solutions, pH levels, and temperatures. The Fe-SLE CPNs were more efficient in the scavenging ability of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than SLE alone. Furthermore, a stronger anti-inflammatory effect of the Fe-SLE CPNs was shown by modulating the MyD88-NF-κB-MAPK signaling pathways. These findings imply that SLE-based nanozymes hold great potential for diverse applications.

Genome Size Variation in Sesamum indicum L. Germplasm from Niger.

Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae) is one of the most economically important oil crops in the world, thanks to the high oil content of its seeds and its nutritional value. It is cultivated all over the world, mainly in Asia and Africa. Well adapted to arid environments, sesame offers a good opportunity as an alternative subsistence crop for farmers in Africa, particularly Niger, to cope with climate change. For the first time, the variation in genome size among 75 accessions of the Nigerien germplasm was studied. The sample was collected throughout Niger, revealing various morphological, biochemical and phenological traits. For comparison, an additional accession from Thailand was evaluated as an available Asian representative. In the Niger sample, the 2C DNA value ranged from 0.77 to 1 pg (753 to 978 Mbp), with an average of 0.85 ± 0.037 pg (831 Mbp). Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in 2C DNA values among 58 pairs of Niger accessions (p-value < 0.05). This significant variation indicates the likely genetic diversity of sesame germplasm, offering valuable insights into its possible potential for climate-resilient agriculture. Our results therefore raise a fundamental question: is intraspecific variability in the genome size of Nigerien sesame correlated with specific morphological and physiological traits?

The influence of climate change on the sesame yield in North Gondar, North Ethiopia: Application Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) time series model.

Sesame is a major annual oil crop that is grown practically everywhere in tropical and subtropical Asia, as well as Africa, for its very nutritious and tasty seeds. Rising temperatures, droughts, floods, desertification, and weather all have a significant impact on agricultural production, particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to examine the influence of climate change on the sesame yield in North Gondar, North Ethiopia, by using the autoregressive distributed Lag (ARDL) time series model. This study employed climate data from the Bahirdar Agrometeorological Center and secondary data on sesame production from the Ethiopian Statistical Service, spanning 36 years, from 1987 to 2023. Autoregressive Distributed LAG (ARDL) includes diagnostic tests for both short- and long-term autoregressive models. The results for the long-run and short-run elastic coefficients show a significant positive association between temperatures and sesame yield. Sesame yield and rainfall have a significant negative long-run and short-run relationship in North Gondar, North Ethiopia. ARDL results confirm that temperature and rainfall have significant effects on sesame productivity. Temperature had a considerable favorable effect on sesamen production, but rainfall had a negative effect in North Gondar, Ethiopia. Based on the evidence acquired from our study, we made several policy recommendations and suggestions to government officials, policymakers, new technologies, researchers, policy development planners, and other stakeholders in order to develop or implement new technology to halt its production and direct adaptation measures in light of the certainty of global warming and the characteristics of climate-dependent agricultural production.

SAFE-GC-O-MS and descriptive sensory analysis were used to reveal the chemical sensory characteristics of sesame paste (tahini) at different storage stages.

Understanding the evolution of aroma profiles in stored sesame paste (SP) is essential for maintaining its quality. This study investigated the storage quality of SP and potential aroma markers indicative of sensory degradation. The descriptive sensory analysis demonstrated changes in aroma attributes during storage, transitioning from roasted sesame and nutty aromas to fermented and green aromas. Physicochemical analysis showed deepening color, intensified lipid oxidation, decreased levels of bioactive components, increased particle aggregation, and deteriorated flowability over 63 days at 40 °C. Gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry identified 37 aroma-active compounds, with pyrazines, aldehydes, and phenols identified as the major constituents. Partial least squares regression analysis revealed 2-ethyl-3-methyl-pyrazine, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, and benzaldehyde as key aroma-active compounds contributing significantly to the distinctive aromas "roasted nut and roasted sesame" found in SP. Conversely, hexanal and dimethyl disulfide emerged as potential markers of undesirable aromas in SP, including "rancid, green, and fermented". These findings provide insights into SP changes during storage, which is vital for preservation and quality enhancement strategies.

Transcriptome Analysis of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Reveals the LncRNA and mRNA Regulatory Network Responding to Low Nitrogen Stress.

Nitrogen is one of the important factors restricting the development of sesame planting and industry in China. Cultivating sesame varieties tolerant to low nitrogen is an effective way to solve the problem of crop nitrogen deficiency. To date, the mechanism of low nitrogen tolerance in sesame has not been elucidated at the transcriptional level. In this study, two sesame varieties Zhengzhi HL05 (ZZ, nitrogen efficient) and Burmese prolific (MD, nitrogen inefficient) in low nitrogen were used for RNA-sequencing. A total of 3964 DEGs (differentially expressed genes) and 221 DELs (differentially expressed lncRNAs) were identified in two sesame varieties at 3d and 9d after low nitrogen stress. Among them, 1227 genes related to low nitrogen tolerance are mainly located in amino acid metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism and secondary metabolism, and participate in the process of transporter activity and antioxidant activity. In addition, a total of 209 pairs of lncRNA-mRNA were detected, including 21 pairs of trans and 188 cis. WGCNA (weighted gene co-expression network analysis) analysis divided the obtained genes into 29 modules; phenotypic association analysis identified three low-nitrogen response modules; through lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network, a number of hub genes and cis/trans-regulatory factors were identified in response to low-nitrogen stress including GS1-2 (glutamine synthetase 1-2), PAL (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase), CHS (chalcone synthase, CHS), CAB21 (chlorophyll a-b binding protein 21) and transcription factors MYB54, MYB88 and NAC75 and so on. As a trans regulator, lncRNA MSTRG.13854.1 affects the expression of some genes related to low nitrogen response by regulating the expression of MYB54, thus responding to low nitrogen stress. Our research is the first to provide a more comprehensive understanding of DEGs involved in the low nitrogen stress of sesame at the transcriptome level. These results may reveal insights into the molecular mechanisms of low nitrogen tolerance in sesame and provide diverse genetic resources involved in low nitrogen tolerance research.

Induced mutation in the SiALS gene offers new weed management opportunities for sesame crop.

Weeds are the primary biotic constraint affecting sesame growth and production. Here, we applied EMS mutagenesis to an elite sesame cultivar and discovered a novel point mutation in the sesame SiALS gene conferring resistance to imidazolinone, a group of acetolactate-synthase (ALS)-inhibitors. The mutant line exhibited high resistance to imazamox, an ALS-inhibitor, with hybrid plants displaying an intermediate response. Field-based validation confirmed the mutant line's substantial resistance, leading to a significantly higher yield under imazamox treatment. Under pre-emergence application of imazapic, the mutant plants sustained growth, whereas wild-type and weed were effectively controlled. Field trials using s-metolachlor and imazapic combined resulted in weed-free plots compared to untreated controls. Consequently, this treatment showed a significantly greater yield (2280 vs. 880 Kg ha-1) than the commercial practice (s-metolachlor). Overall, our study unveils the potential of utilizing this point mutation in sesame breeding programs, offering new opportunities for integrated weed management strategies for sesame cultivation. Developing herbicide-resistant crop plants holds promise for supporting sustainable production and addressing the challenges of weed infestations in sesame farming.

Double-digest restriction-associated DNA sequencing-based genotyping and its applications in sesame germplasm management.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an ancient oilseed crop belonging to the family Pedaliaceae and a globally cultivated crop for its use as oil and food. In this study, 2496 sesame accessions, being conserved at the National Genebank of ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), were genotyped using genomics-assisted double-digest restriction-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) approach. A total of 64,910 filtered single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were utilized to assess the genome-scale diversity. Applications of this genome-scale information (reduced representation using restriction enzymes) are demonstrated through the development of a molecular core collection (CC) representing maximal SNP diversity. This information is also applied in developing a mid-density panel (MDP) comprising 2515 hyper-variable SNPs, representing almost equally the genic and non-genic regions. The sesame CC comprising 384 accessions, a representative set of accessions with maximal diversity, was identified using multiple criteria such as k-mer (subsequence of length "k" in a sequence read) diversity, observed heterozygosity, CoreHunter3, GenoCore, and genetic differentiation. The coreset constituted around 15% of the total accessions studied, and this small subset had captured >60% SNP diversity of the entire population. In the coreset, the admixture analysis shows reduced genetic complexity, increased nucleotide diversity (π), and is geographically distributed without any repetitiveness in the CC germplasm. Within the CC, India-originated accessions exhibit higher diversity (as expected based on the center of diversity concept), than those accessions that were procured from various other countries. The identified CC set and the MDP will be a valuable resource for genomics-assisted accelerated sesame improvement program.