Oil and minor components of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) strains

Oil and mior components of sesamin and sesamolin were studied in 42 strains ofSesamum indicum L. The oil contents of the seed ranged from 43.4 to 58.8% and varied inversely with the percentage of hull (r=−0.804, significant at the 1% level). The hull percentage was used as a criterion to predict oil content. The percentage of sesamin in the oil ranged from 0.07 to 0.61% and that of sesamolin from 0.02 to 0.48%. There was a significant positive correlation between the oil content of the seed and the sesamin content of the oil (r=0.608, significant at the 1% level); no correlation was found between the oil and sesamolin contents. The average oil content found for the white‐seeded strains was 55.0% and for the black‐seeded strains 47.8%, the difference of 7.2% being significant at the 1% level. The white‐ and black‐seed strains also differed significantly in sesamin content, but not in sesamolin content.