Researches on sunflower, sesame, rapeseed and industrial plants genetic resources under first and second crop production seasons have been being carried out since 1973 by the Oilseed Unit of Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI). Oilseed researches are carried on Sunflowers, Sesame, Rapeseed, and Industrial Plants Genetic Resources.

Sunflower breeding program focused on improving hybrid, synthetic, and composite oilseed and confectionary varieties, hybrid parental lines (CMS, Maintainer, and Rf lines) and improved populations with desired characters. In sesame breeding, seed coat colour, branching, hairy and non-hairy, non-shattering types, disease resistance, machine harvest and consumption are also under consideration. Different type of sesame varieties with high yield and quality has been improved.  Since now, 1 open pollinated (EGE 2001) 2 hybrid (TURAY and SUN 2235) oilseed sunflower variety and  5 white seed coat sesame variety (Kepsut 99, Cumhuriyet 99, Osmanlı 99, Tan 99, Orhangazi 99) and yellow seed coat sesame variety (TANAS and SARISU)  registered and also candidate varieties are improved in oilseed and confectionary sunflowers, sesame rapeseed. In addition various researches carried out in sunflowers, sesame, and reseed including agronomic researches.

The survey and collection of the species in this group within the scope of the "Industrial Plants Genetic Resources Research Project" is done for long-term conservation at National Seed Gene Bank of AARI. The samples are evaluated in terms of their agro-morphological characteristics and molecular, and their production and renewal are done in order to increase the amount and the viability. Moreover, these materials are also used in breeding programs. Registered sesame, tobacco and sunflower varieties can be given as examples for this case.