OIL CONTENTS OF SEEDS AND MINOR COMPONENTS IN THE OIL OF SESAME, SESAMUM-INDICUM L, AS AFFECTED BY CAPSULE POSITION

Field trials were conducted at the Experimental Station of Nagoya University from May to September 1986 to study within-plant variations in seed weight, hull percentage and the seed oil content and its minor components as affected by different capsule locations on individual sesame plants. Seven capsule positions, five on the main stem and two on the branches, were selected. Seed weight and hull percentage decreased with capsule position from the bottom to the top of the main stem and branches. The oil content of the seed was greatest at positions on the top part of the branches and smallest at the position on the lower bottom part of the main stem. The capsules on the lower bottom part of the main stem had the lowest sesamin and sesamolin contents, but the capsules on the upper central part had the highest sesamin content and those on the lower central part had the highest sesamolin content. The difference in sesamin and sesamolin contents from the time when the lower bottom part capsules turned light yellow to the time of rupture showed a marked decrease at the central position. The evidence suggests that conversion of sesamin and sesamolin to other substances takes place prior to full maturity.