Summary
A programme of research was designed to investigate methods for the modification of the fatty acid profiles of high performance lines of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in an attempt to produce lines with enhanced levels of industrially useful fatty acids. The methodology employed to achieve these objectives was based on the exploitation of somaclonal or protoclonal variation, and targeted somatic hybridization using wild cruciferous germplasm as fusion partners.
A range of somaclonal lines was produced from shoot regeneration protocols. These lines underwent replicated, randomised glasshouse trials for morphological assessment followed by gas chromatographic analysis to monitor any changes in fatty acid profile. It was found that a small number of lines exhibited potentially useful changes in oleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid content. Protoplast regeneration and electrofusion protocols for a range of winter oilseed rape lines were developed, and methods for the isolation and fusion of protoplasts of the wild crucifer Lunaria annua (chosen for its high nervonic acid content) established.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- GC:
-
Gas Chromatography
References
Barsby T.L., S.A. Yarrow & J.F. Shepard, 1986. A rapid and alternative procedure for the regeneration of plants from hypocotyl protoplasts of Brassica napus. Plant Cell Rep. 5: 101–103.
Barsby T.L., P.V. Chuong, S.A. Yarrow, Wu Sau-Ching, M. Coumans, R.J. Kemble, A.D. Powell, W.D. Beversorf & K.P. Pauls, 1987. The combination of Polima cms and cytoplasmic traizine inheritance in Brassica napus. Theor. Appl. Genet. 73: 809–814.
Glimelius K., 1984. High growth rate and regeneration capacity of hypocotyl protoplasts in some Brassicaceae. Physiol. Plant. 61: 38–44.
Glimelius K., J. Fahlesson, M. Landgren, C. Sjodin & E. Sunderg, 1989. Somatic hybridization as a means to broaden the gene pool of cruciferous oil plants. Sverig. Utsadd. Tidskrift 99: 103–108.
Green A.G., 1986. A mutant genotype of flax containing very low levels of linolenic acid in its seed oil. Can. J. Plant Sci. 66: 499–503.
Griffiths D.W., G.W. Robertson, S. Millam & A.C. Holmes, 1992. The determination of the petroselenic acid content of Coriandrum sativum oil by gas chromatography. Phytochem. Anal. 3: 250–253.
Hills M.J. & D.T. Murphy, 1991. Biotechnology of oilseeds. Biotech. Gen. Eng. Rev. 9: 1–45.
Khera G.S. & R.J. Mathias, 1992. The interaction of genotype, explant and media on the regeneration of shoots from complex explants of Brassica napus L. J. Exp. Bot. 43 (256): 1413–1418.
Kidd G., 1993. pursuing improved canola an unctuous aim? Bio/Technology 11: 448–449.
Ladd S.L. & P.F. Knowles, 1970. Inheritance of stearic acid in the seed oil of safflower. Crop Sci. 10: 525–527.
Loudon P.T., R.S. Nelson & D.S. Ingram, 1989. Studies of protoplast culture and plant regeneration from commercial and rapid cycling Brassica species. Plant Cell Tiss. Org. Cult. 19: 214–224.
Millam S., 1989. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Brassica species. Asp. Appl. Biol. 23: 23–30.
Millam S., D. Davidson, Wen Lanying & W. Powell, 1991. A protocol for efficient tissue culture regeneration of rapid-cycling Brassicas. Biotechnol. Educ. 2(2): 63–64.
Millam S., A. Craig & W.W. Christie, 1994. Case studies in the investigation of potential industrial oil crops. Annual Report SCRI 1993: 10–14.
Millam S., A. Craig, C. Harvey, G.R. Mackay & I.M. Morrison, 1994a. Modification of oilseed rape by means of applied tissue culture methodology. p. 198–202. In: S. Hennink, L.J.M.van Soest, R. Pithan & L. Hof (Eds). Alternative Oilseed and Fibre Crops for Cold and Wet Regions of Europe. Guyot, Brussels.
Murashige T. & F. Skoog, 1962. A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue culture. Physiol. Plant. 15: 473–497.
Murphy D.T., 1992. Modifying oilseed crops for non-edible products. Trends in Biotech. 10: 84–87.
Pelletier G., C. Primard, F. Vedel, P. Chetrit, R. Remy, P. Rousselle & M. Renard, 1983. Intergeneric cytoplasmic hybridization in Cruciferae by protoplast fusion. Mol. Gen. Genet. 191: 244–252.
Röbbelen, G., 1991. The genetic improvement of seed oil. Chemistry and Industry, p. 713–716.
Stefansson B.R., F.W. Hougen & R.K. Downey, 1961. Note on the isolation of rape plants with seed oil free from erucic acid. Can. J. Plant Sci. 41: 218–219.
Welch R.W., 1977. A micro-method for the estimation of oil content and composition in seed crops. J. Sci. Food Agric. 28: 635–638.
Wellensiek S.J., 1973. Genetics and flower formation of annual Lunaria. Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 21: 163–166.
Williams M., D. Francis, A.C. Hann & J.C. Harwood, 1991. Changes in lipid composition during callus differentiation in cultures of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). J. Exp. Bot. 42(245): 1551–1556.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Craig, A., Millam, S. Modification of oilseed rape to produce oils for industrial use by means of applied tissue culture methodology. Euphytica 85, 323–327 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023962
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023962