Development of New Sesame Lines for Leaf and Seed Yield in China

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a traditional oilseed crop whose seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. In central China, sesame leaves are also consumed as a seasonal vegetable, and increasing leaf biomass could raise farm income without sacrificing seed production. To develop dual-purpose germplasm for both leaf vegetable and seed oil production, we crossed the large-leaf cultivar ‘Dingzhi No.1’ (female) with the disease-resistant exotic accession ‘Japan 3(32)’ (male) in 2015. Seven consecutive generations of single-plant directional selection produced the stable inbred line ‘LBP2019’, which has a prolonged vegetative phase, oversized, dark-green leaves, unbranched stems, and strong lodging resistance. At full bloom, its middle-canopy leaf area reached 360 cm2, significantly larger than that of conventional sesame varieties. Considerable heterosis was observed; mid-parent heterosis reached 62.9% for fresh leaf weight and 14.5% for 1000-seed weight. In two-year multi-location trials (2024–2025, three sites), ‘LBP2019’ produced 12.80 t ha−1 fresh leaf yield, 11.6% higher than the elite seed-use check ‘Zhongzhi No.40’, while its seed yield was not significantly different from that of the check. AMMI analysis identified ‘LBP2019’ as the most stable genotype for seed yield. It also had high oil content (56.67%) and moderate protein content (20.31%). In 2024–2025, dual-purpose harvest increased net profit to about 4140 USD ha−1, approximately 3.3-fold that of the seed-only check. Overall, ‘LBP2019’ is an elite dual-purpose sesame germplasm combining large foliage, lodging tolerance, and broad adaptability, and it provides valuable genetic resources for multifunctional sesame breeding.