Traditional Breeding in Sesame

S. indicum is the sole cultivated species in the genus Sesamum. The relatively low genetic diversity in the cultivated species limits the development of new varieties through breeding. In this chapter, the main breeding methods in sesame including space mutation, heterosis application, hybridization, system breeding, and interspecific hybridization are introduced. Main achievements of the new varieties breeding in China, USA, and African countries are shown in this chapter. The main breeding objectives of the world sesame are discussed accordingly.