Association mapping of seed oil and protein content in Sesamum indicum L. using SSR markers.

Sesame is an important oil crop for the high oil content and quality. The seed oil and protein contents are two important traits in sesame. To identify the molecular markers associated with the seed oil and protein contents in sesame, we systematically performed the association mapping among 369 worldwide germplasm accessions under 5 environments using 112 polymorphic SSR markers. The general linear model (GLM) was applied with the criteria of logP ≥ 3.0 and high stability under all 5 environments. Among the 369 sesame accessions, the oil content ranged from 27.89%-58.73% and the protein content ranged from 16.72%-27.79%. A significant negative correlation of the oil content with the protein content was found in the population. A total of 19 markers for oil content were detected with a R2 value range from 4% to 29%; 24 markers for protein content were detected with a R2 value range from 3% to 29%, of which 19 markers were associated with both traits. Moreover, partial markers were confirmed using mixed linear model (MLM) method, which suggested that the oil and protein contents are controlled mostly by major genes. Allele effect analysis showed that the allele associated with high oil content was always associated with low protein content, and vice versa. Of the 19 markers associated with oil content, 17 presented near the locations of the plant lipid pathway genes and 2 were located just next to a fatty acid elongation gene and a gene encoding Stearoyl-ACP Desaturase, respectively. The findings provided a valuable foundation for oil synthesis gene identification and molecular marker assistant selection (MAS) breeding in sesame.

Genome sequencing of the high oil crop sesame provides insight into oil biosynthesis.

BACKGROUND: Sesame, Sesamum indicum L., is considered the queen of oilseeds for its high oil content and quality, and is grown widely in tropical and subtropical areas as an important source of oil and protein. However, the molecular biology of sesame is largely unexplored. RESULTS: Here, we report a high-quality genome sequence of sesame assembled de novo with a contig N50 of 52.2 kb and a scaffold N50 of 2.1 Mb, containing an estimated 27,148 genes. The results reveal novel, independent whole genome duplication and the absence of the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain in resistance genes. Candidate genes and oil biosynthetic pathways contributing to high oil content were discovered by comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses. These revealed the expansion of type 1 lipid transfer genes by tandem duplication, the contraction of lipid degradation genes, and the differential expression of essential genes in the triacylglycerol biosynthesis pathway, particularly in the early stage of seed development. Resequencing data in 29 sesame accessions from 12 countries suggested that the high genetic diversity of lipid-related genes might be associated with the wide variation in oil content. Additionally, the results shed light on the pivotal stage of seed development, oil accumulation and potential key genes for sesamin production, an important pharmacological constituent of sesame. CONCLUSIONS: As an important species from the order Lamiales and a high oil crop, the sesame genome will facilitate future research on the evolution of eudicots, as well as the study of lipid biosynthesis and potential genetic improvement of sesame.

Gene family of oleosin isoforms and their structural stabilization in sesame seed oil bodies.

Oleosins are structural proteins sheltering the oil bodies of plant seeds. Two isoform classes termed H- and L-oleosin are present in diverse angiosperms. Two H-oleosins and one L-oleosin were identified in sesame oil bodies from the protein sequences deduced from their corresponding cDNA clones. Sequence analysis showed that the main difference between the H- and L-isoforms is an insertion of 18 residues in the C-terminal domain of H-oleosins. H-oleosin, presumably derived from L-oleosin, was duplicated independently in several species. All known oleosins can be classified as one of these two isoforms. Single copy or a low copy number was detected by Southern hybridization for each of the three oleosin genes in the sesame genome. Northern hybridization showed that the three oleosin genes were transcribed in maturing seeds where oil bodies are being assembled. Artificial oil bodies were reconstituted with triacylglycerol, phospholipid, and sesame oleosin isoforms. The results indicated that reconstituted oil bodies could be stabilized by both isoforms, but L-oleosin gave slightly more structural stability than H-oleosin.