Can genetic engineering improve oil content and seed yield in sesame plants?
Genetic engineering techniques have been used to enhance the oil content and seed yield in sesame plants by targeting essential enzymes involved in oil synthesis, including diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), phospholipid diacylglycerol acyltransferases (PDAT), fatty acid desaturases (FAD), and cytochrome b 5 (Muthulakshmi et al., 2021).
Which countries produce the most sesame oil in the world?
This growth is attributed to factors such as rising demand for sesame oil and improved farming practices. Asia has supplied most of the world’s sesame for the past 60 years (Fig. 2). But since 2012, Africa has been the top producer, with 56.8% of global production (FAOSTAT 2024).
What is sesame oil?
1. Introduction Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the oldest cultivated oilseed crops, known for its resilient growth in arid conditions and highly valued seeds for their oil and nutritional content.
How has global sesame production changed over the past 60 years?
In the past 60 years, global sesame production has substantially increased, with Asia and Africa being the primary producers. The integration of omics technologies and biotechnological interventions has revolutionized our understanding of the genetic basis of sesame, enhanced productivity, invigorated stress resilience, and improved seed quality.