Oil Yielding Plants

Oil Yielding Plants:- Fatty oils are obtained from different plant parts such as stem, fruit and seeds.
1. Mustard:- 
Botanical Name:- Brassica campestris
Family:- Cruciferae or Brassicaceae
Introduction:-
> It is an herb and is grown as an oil seed crop mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar and Assam. 
> The oil content is 32 to 40%. 
> Erucic acid is the characteristic fatty acid of mustard oil. 
> The oil is extracted by expression or solvent.
Economic Botany:-
> The oil is used for cooking and burning. 
> It is also used in ayurvedic medicines as liniment or for massage in paralytic diseases and in gum diseases.
> It is used in tanning process. 
> The oil cake is used as cattle feed and as a fertilizer.
2. Sesame:-
Botanical Name:- Sesamum indicum
Family:- Pedaliaceae
Introduction:-
> Sesame is an important and oldest grown oilseed crop in the world. 
> It is also known as til or gingely apartment from various other local names in India. 
> Sesame is reported to be originated in South Africa and was introduced to India by migrants prior to the Indus valley civilization. 
> India is the largest producer of sesame. 
> It is widely preferred for its qualities of high drought tolerance and the highest oil content in the seeds. 
> There mainly two distinct types of sesame seeds are popular viz., white and black though a few other varieties varying from red to rose or from brown or grey are also available.
Economic Botany:-
Seeds:- Sesame seeds are used in various food and snack preparations as well as in salad dressing.
Oil:- Sesame seeds contain the highest oil compared to any other oilseed to an extent of 50% and above. The unique qualities of sesame oil are stability and resistance to rancidity, with long shelf life due to the presence of the high level of natural antioxidants.
Meal:- Sesame seeds are rich in protein with about 25% of their weight. Sesame meal contains 35-50% protein and used as feed for poultry and livestock.
3. Groundnut:- 
Botanical Name:- Arachis hypogaea
Family:- Papilionaceae
Introduction:-
> Groundnut, a native to Brazil, is an important source of oil. 
> It is a low growing herb of tropical and sub-tropical regions. 
> The crop is largely grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. 
> The oil is expressed from seeds both by hydraulic presses and expellers. 
> Oil content of seeds varies from 40 to 50%. 
> It is also rich in phosphorus and vitamins. 
> Oil contains mainly oleic acid.
Economic Botany:-
> It is predominantly used for culinary purposes. 
> It is used for the manufacture of vegetable ghee by hydrogenation. 
> The oil is used as a laxative and emollient. 
> It is also used in soap making, in leather dressings, furniture creams and in making shaving creams, cold creams, candles etc. 
> The oil cakes are used as feed for animals and as a manure.
4. Soybean:-
Botanical Name:- Glycine max
Family:- Fabaceae
Introduction:-
> It is an important oil seed crop. 
> Brazil is projected to be the largest producer of soybeans in the world followed by the United States & Argentina.
> Cultivated soybean seeds have an oil content of approximately 18–22%, whereas wild soybean seeds contain about 8–10% oil.
> The leading producer of soybean in India is Madhya Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Economic Botany:-
> Soybean oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the soybean. 
> It is one of the most widely consumed cooking oils and the second most consumed vegetable oil. 
> As a drying oil, processed soybean oil is also used as a base for printing inks (soy ink) and oil paints.
> An edible oil pressed from the seeds is used to make margarine and as a stabilizing agent in the processing of food and the manufacture of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. 
> The oil is employed in such industrial products as paint, varnish, printing ink, soaps, insecticides, and disinfectants.
5. Sunflower:- 
Botanical Name:- Helianthus annuus
Family:- Compositae or Asteraceae
Introduction:-
> It is an important oil seed crop of India. 
> Sunflower seeds contain 42 to 50% oil.
> In India it is cultivated mainly in Karnataka Maharashtra Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. 
> The oil contains mainly unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acids).
Economic Botany:-
> Sunflower oil is a very good cooking medium. 
> Sunflower oil contains protein and vitamin A. 
> It is easily digested. 
> It is also used in making paints and soap.