Seed yield and oil quality of sunflower, safflower, and sesame under different levels of irrigation water availability

•Water deficit reduced seed yield by 16.3% in sunflower, 12.8% in sesame, and 9.4% in safflower.•Water deficit reduced oil yield by 22.5% in sunflower, 13.3% in sesame, and 10.2% in safflower.•Linolenic and palmitic acid were greatly reduced (29.8% and 28.5%) in safflower and sunflower.•Mild water deficit did not affect oil percentage in safflower and sesame.