Abstract
Evaluation of sesamin and sesamolin contents of sesame seeds is necessary for breeding lignan-rich sesame varieties. Maturity of individual capsules is not uniform in a sesame plant and the size and the sesamin and sesamolin contents of seeds also vary with the capsule. Seed weight is lighter in upper capsules which flowered later and is stable in the capsules more than 30-40 days after flowering. Sesamin and sesamolin contents of seed were highest in the capsules at 30 days after flowering, and decreased thereafter. Sesamin and sesamolin contents of seeds in the capsules, which flowered on the same date and were harvested on different dates, showed a similar trend related to the days after flowering. Sesamin and sesamolin contents of seeds changed with the seed maturity. Therefore, it is necessary to use the capsules at an accurate maturity stage to examine the varietal difference of the contents. Analyzing sesamin and sesamorin contents of seeds from the capsules which flowered and were harvested on the same dates is necessary for the selection of lignan rich sesame varieties. Especially the capsules around 30 days after flowering showed a large varietal difference in sesamin and sesamolin contents of seeds.
