Oil content and composition of the seed in the world collection of sesame introductions

Abstract

The quantity and quality of oil was studied in 721 introductions of sesame seed. The mean oil content was 53.1% and the iodine value was 117.4. The mean fatty-acid composition was palmitic 9.5%, stearic 4.4%, oleic 39.6% and linoleic 46%. Early-maturing plants had the highest oil content. Earliness, yellow seed colour and large seed size were associated with lower iodine value. A significant negative correlation was found between oleic- and linoleic-acid content. There was no relation between oil content and the iodine value of the oil.