Unveiling the Unique Phenotypic, Photosynthetic, and Biochemical Traits of the JQA Wrinkled Leaf Mutant in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Sesame, a prized oil crop, is acknowledged for its distinctive aroma, health benefits, and copious antioxidants, including sesamin and sesamol. Despite the importance of features like wrinkled leaf and pollen sterility in sesame breeding, scant research into the former impedes progress in cultivation and production. This study endeavors to illuminate the etiology of wrinkled leaves in sesame by probing agronomic and biochemical factors like hydration, nutrient makeup, antioxidant enzymes, and hormones. The investigation found substantial disparities between mutant wrinkled leaves and normal ones; the mutants exhibited heightened water content (86.60% vs 84.99%), augmented dry leaf weight, greater stomata density per unit area (174.58 vs 146.32 cm(-2)), and a significantly amplified carotenoid content by 27.5%. The study deduced that deficient gibberellic acid (GA3) production in mutant leaves during the seedling stage (< 0.005 ng g(-1)) restricts leaf elongation, causing wrinkles. Moreover, abnormal auxin (IAA) production during the seedling stage (< 8.57 ng g(-1)) and deficient jasmonic acid (JA) in both central and flat leaves (< 12.0 ng g(-1)) were associated with wrinkling. Furthermore, excessive late-stage GA3 production (> 0.041 ng g(-1)) led to persistent wrinkling and postponed maturity. This research, the first of its kind, elucidates the biochemical origins of sesame's wrinkled leaf formation, offering insights into the mechanisms of this trait and potentially facilitating the creation of new sterile lines and endorsement of sesame as a fresh-leaf vegetable. Hence, this study offers crucial understanding of the intricate factors governing the development of wrinkled leaves in sesame.