Enigma of recalcitrance to tissue culture in the oilseed crop Sesamum indicum L.-a review

Success in aseptic culture of cells, tissues, organs, and their components under defined physical and chemical conditions in vitro, is an important step in application of plant tissue culture studies for genetic manipulation and commercial production of crop plants. Despite being one of the oldest oilseed crops, Sesamum indicum L. (sesame)is far from attaining pinnacle position in the field of biotechnology, owing to its recalcitrant nature towards in vitro conditions. The humongous amount of literature available on secondary metabolites of this crop clearly depicts that majority of the scientific progress has been focused on the phytochemistry of S. indicum. This review provides a retrospective study on the scientific ventures in plant tissue culture and genetic engineering aspects of this crop. It also addresses the discernible loopholes and probable strategies to overcome them.