Five distinct accessions of sesame were employed in a diallel mating to study combining abilities and assess potentials for seeds oil quality improvement. Specific combining ability (SCA) mean square values were greater than general combining ability (GCA) for most traits indicating the preponderance of non-additive gene action except for 1000-seed weight. PACH was the best general combiner for number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, number of seeds per plant, seed oil and protein contents (%). Cross S530xPACH exhibited good combination for 1000-seed weight, seed weight per plant, seed oil and protein contents (%). Cross 65-8B x PACH had the highest significant positive mid and better parent heterosis for seeds per plant, primary branches, plant height while cross S530 x PACH for 1000-seed weight and seed oil (%). Seeds of cross 65-8BxPACH showed exceptional high level of linoleic acid (52.08%) and unsaturated fatty acids (94.45%), suggesting the possibility of developing superior cultivars with improved oil quality through selection in segregating population.
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