Endomycorrhizal Association in Sesame. Effects on Growth and Nutrition

Book excerpt: Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is recognized as one of the most ancient oils. Its cultivation goes back to 2130 BC. It is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and southern temperate regions of the world for its seeds which are a rich source of edible oil. Recent studies have shown that the oil lowers cholesterol levels and hypertension in humans and reduces the incidence of certain cancers. India ranks high in the area and production of sesame in the world with an annual area of 2.07 million hectares and total production of 0.76 million tons. Even though sesame is the predominant oil seed crop of India, the per hectare productivity and the economic returns given by it are very low. The crop is very sensitive to biotic and abiotic stresses and it grows in marginal light-textured inceptisols having poor soil fertility associated with imbalance and without fertilizer application. The application of both organic and inorganic fertilizers could help bringing in profitable returns. However, due to escalating costs of production of chemical fertilizers and low subsidies for farmers, the agricultural planners are compelled to re-orient their thinking towards cost effective and cheap renewable resources.