A rainfall of 600-1,000 mm can result in optimum yield under varying soil and climatic conditions in India. The crop can be grown entirely on stored soil moisture and only an odd shower early in growth can produce good yields. ![]() The seedling stage, however, is susceptible to moisture shortage. Once established, sesame is capable of withstanding a higher degree of water stress (drought) than many other crops. ![]() The substantial difference in growth and development due to varying photoperiods on short and long season types in India emphasises necessity for selecting the most suitable variety for a seasonal planting. Such varieties when sown in August when there is a day length of 12.5 hrs produced normal ovaries. Sown in June, when there is approximately a day length of 13.5 hrs were found with insufficiently filled ovaries leading to few fully developed fruits. The kharif variety will produce uneconomic yields in the rabi and vice versa. Even in the same district, two distinct verities, each with its own characteristics must be grown. In India, sesame is grown in kharif and rabi. However, when these varieties are introduced into other areas with similar day length but dissimilar rainfall or temperature, there is considerable variation in growth and yield from that in their original home. Sesame is basically a short day plant but many varieties have become locally adapted to various light periods. ![]() Conversely, temperatures above 40° C at flowering seriously affect fertilisation and the number of capsules set will be low. Low temperatures at flowering results in pollen sterility and premature flower drop. Germination is delayed at temperatures below 20☌ and temperature less than 18☌ after emergence will severely retard growth. A temperature of 25° to 27☌ is ideal for rapid germination, initial growth and flower formation. Sesame requires fairly hot conditions during growth for optimum yield. It is grown in Himalayas up to 1,250 m and up to 2,000 m in Nepal. Its altitude range is normally below 1,250 m, although some varieties may be locally adapted up to 1,500 m. Its main distribution is between 25°S and 25°N but found growing up to 40°N in China, Russia and USA and 30°S in Australia and 35°S in South America. Sesame is considered to be basically a crop of warm regions of tropics and subtropics but its extension into more temperate zones is made possible by breeding suitable varieties. Highest yield (0.82 t ha -1) is in WB followed by Assam (0.56 t ha -1).ģ. Production is highest in WB (0.19 M t) followed by Rajasthan (0.10 M t). Largest area (0.59 M ha) under sesame is in Rajasthan followed by UP (0.33 M ha). In India, as per 2009-10 statistics, sesame is cultivated in an area of 1.94 M ha with a production of 0.66 M t accounting to a productivity of 0.30 t ha-1. However, its productivity in India is 370 kg ha -1. India ranks first both in the area (35%) and production of sesame (25%) in the world. World average productivity is 448 kg ha -1. Globally, sesame is cultivated (2003) over an area of 6.57 M ha with an annual production around 2.94 M t. It is most ancient oilseed crop of India next to groundnut and brassica oilseeds. It has earned a poetic label Queen of Oilseeds due to high quality polyunsaturated stable fatty acid, which restrains oxidative rancidity. ![]() Sesame, sesamum or gingelly (Sesamum indium) known as til (Hindi) and nuvvulu (Telugu), is the most ancient oilseed crop known and used by man, so ancient that it is almost impossible to say with any degree of accuracy where and when domestication took place. In India, major sesame cultivating states are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Major sesame producing countries are India, China, Myanmar, Sudan, Pakistan, Mexico, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and Burma. Bedigian and Hartin (1986) indicated that sesame originated in the Indian subcontinent and spread through west Asia to India, China and Japan, which latter became secondary centers of origin. Its cultivation in India is ancient but De Candolle (1890) was of the opinion, now known to be based on inaccurate data, that the plant was introduced to India from Indonesia prior to the Aryan invasion. The greatest weight of evidence indicates the Ethiopian area as the origin of cultivated sesame, although there is considerable argument in favour of Afghanistan, with subsidiary centers in Indo- Malaya and China. In this article we will discuss about:- 1.
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