Morphological Characteristics of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) Seeds

Abstract

Morphological characteristics of two types of Black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa), Indian and Ethiopian origin were subjected to examine in this study. Therein, two physical characteristics namely colour and appearance were investigated with a view of determining the possibility of the seed for decorticating. The whole seed, seed coat and cotyledon of Ethiopian origin Nigella seeds were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope. Present study was also performed to determine the colour of both types of seeds “Indian and Ethiopian” before and after decortications. Results revealed that black cumin seeds could have the possibility of decortications as morphological features of the seeds can facilitate to create an abrasion and friction actions. Colour of the seed was remarkably improved after decortication, because L* values before and after decortications were 8.25 and 18.68 respect to Indian origin where as 6.87 and 15.77 in Ethiopian origin respectively.