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

摘要

Variability in seed oil content and fatty acid composition was investigated in East African sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) accessions in a 3-yr (2002-2004) field evaluation conducted in the Busia district of Kenya. Relationships between different fatty acid concn. and oil content were examined. Oil content and concn. of most fatty acids were significantly different among accessions. However, concn. of palmitoleic, behenic and erucic acids were similar for all sesame accessions. Oil content and concn. of most fatty acids also varied significantly among yr. However, erucic acid content did not vary with yr. Stearic, linolenic and arachidic acid contents were only slightly affected by cultivation yr. Oil content correlated negatively with palmitic and linoleic acid concn., and positively with stearic and oleic acid concn. Sesame accessions with consistent oil contents as well as those with low or high variation in the levels of oleic and linoleic fatty acids were identified. It is suggested that these sesame accessions, after additional evaluation in multi-location trials, could be suitable for incorporation into plant breeding programmes in East Africa targeting increases in the diversity of sesame seed oil quality and fatty acid composition.