Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a crop of great antiquity which is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, South and North America and to some extent in Russia for edible oil and for animal feed purposes. The average yield in India is only about 235 kg/ha. Even under good management practices the seed yields usually remain poor and, therefore, commercial prospects of sesame production are not good.