Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an orphan crop with most molecular genetic research work done in the last decade. In this study, pyrosequencing was used for the development of genomic SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) markers in sesame. The approach proved successful in identifying 19,816 SSRs, 5727 of which were identified in a contig assembly that covers 19.29% of the sesame genome. As a result of this work, 933 experimentally validated sesame specific markers were introduced, 849 of which are applicable in Sesamum mulayanum, the wild progenitor of cultivated sesame. Using a subset of SSR markers, molecular genetic diversity and population structure of a collection of world accessions were analyzed. Results of the analyses revealed a pattern of gene flow among sesame diversity centers. Taken together with the high rate of genomic marker transferability between S. indicum and S. mulayanum, the results provide molecular genetic evidence for designating the two taxa as cultivated and wild forms of the same species.In related work, a Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS) approach was applied on recombinant inbred lines for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification and mapping in the sesame genome. As a result, 15,521 SNPs were identified and a high-resolution genetic linkage map was constructed using a core set of selected SNPs (781 SNPs) appropriate for use in linkage analysis. The 15,521 putative SNP markers represent a substantial contribution to the existing pool of sesame-specific markers. The genetic linkage map constructed in this work will enable the identification of loci involved in the genetic control of agriculturally important traits in sesame.