Seed oil content and fatty acid composition in East African sesame ( Sesamum indicum L.) accessions evaluated over 3 years

Abstract

Oil content and fatty acid composition are important attributes desirable in oil crops. A 3-year (2002–2004) field evaluation of selected East African sesame accessions was conducted in Busia district in Kenya to assess the variability in the seed oil content, fatty acid composition and relationship between oil content and specific fatty acids. The correlations among different fatty acids and oil content were examined to create an understanding of their interrelations for future breeding. The oil content and the concentration of most of the fatty acids examined was significantly different among accessions. However, the concentration of palmitoleic, behenic and erucic acids was similar for all sesame accessions. The oil and fatty acid content varied significantly among the years. However, erucic acid content did not vary with years. Stearic, linolenic and arachidic acid contents were the least affected across the years. Oil content correlated negatively with palmitic and linoleic acids, and positively with stearic and oleic acids. The present 3-year study has identified sesame accessions with consistent oil content as well as those with low or high variation in the levels of oleic and linoleic fatty acids. These accessions, after additional evaluation in multi-location trials, could be suitable for incorporation into coming breeding programs in East Africa targeting an increase in the diversity of the sesame oil quality as well as oil content.