The aims of this study were estimation of the variability of seed yield, oil content, oleic acid and linoleic acid content in single plant progenies and lints derived from Turkish sesame populations, and the improvement of different type Lines with regard to high seed yield, high oil content and specific fatty acid composition. Different types of lines were developed - i.e. lines which yielded over 1000 kg seeds/ha from the yield type progenies and lines which yielded over 63% of oil content from oil type progenies - but it was not possible to improve lines where fatty acid composition differed dramatically from that of oleic and linoleic type progenies.