Seed Lipids of Sesamum indicum, L. and Related Wild Species in Sudan I: Fatty Acids and Triacylglycerols

The fatty acid composition and triacylglycerol profile of seeds of three wild species of sesame viz, Sesamum alatum, Thonn., S. radiatum, Schum & Thonn. and S. angustifolium, (Oliv) Engl. were determined by capillary gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Results were compared with those obtained for different pure line and mixed genotypes of S. indicum, Linn., the overall world wide cultivated sesame. Oleic and linoleic acids are the major fatty acids in all samples. The wild species have slightly different saturated acid composition compared to S. indicum. S. alatum contained more palmitic acid (P) while S. radiatum and S. angustifolium contained more stearic acid. S. alatum also contained higher amounts of oleic acid (O) and lower amounts of linoleic acid (L). The major triacylglycerols were: LLO (20–25%), LLL (10–20%), LOO (15–19%), PLL (8–11%) and PLO (6–10%). S. alatum was also different from the other three species in having higher percentages of PLO (10.1%) and OOO (8.7%) compared to 6.3–8.1% of PLO and 3.4–4.9% of OOO in the other three species.