5 Sesame Seed

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), otherwise known as sesamum or benniseed, member of the family Pedaliaceae, is one of the most ancient oilseeds crop known to mankind. Sesame plays an important role in human nutrition. Most of the sesame seeds are used for oil extraction and the rest are used for edible purposes (El Khier et al, 2008). Sesame is grown primarily for its oil-rich seeds. Before seeds were appreciated for their ability to add nutty flavour or garnish foods, they were primarily used for oil and wine (Ghandi, 2009). After the extraction of oil, the cake is mostly used for livestock feed or often as manure. Its colour varies from cream-white to charcoal-black but it is mainly white or black. Other colours of some sesame seed varieties include, yellow, red or brown (Naturland, 2002). In Nigeria, the notable colours for sesame seed are white, yellow and black (Fariku et al., 2007). The lighter varieties of sesame which are considered to be of higher quality are generally more valued in the West and Middle East, while both the pale and black varieties are prized in the Far East. (www.wikepedia-sesame). There are numerous varieties and ecotypes of sesame adapted to various ecological conditions (Nzioku et al., 2010).