Of all the edible oils, only that produced from olives has had its health attributes studied in detail. For maximum nutritional benefit, an edible oil should contain minimal levels of saturated fats, especially lauric and myristic acids and minimal levels of trans fatty acids. If the oils are not to be heated repeatedly and if they contain high levels of antioxidants, they should contain omega‐3 and possibly omega‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acid profile should be dominated by monounsaturated fatty acids. Secondary products which act as antioxidants including polyphenols, proanthocyanidins, tocopherols and carotenoids increase the shelf‐life of oils, reportedly reduce cardiovascular disease and provide some anticarcinogenic properties. More research is also required, but there is evidence that phytosterols and squalene are also beneficial components of edible oils. Selection and breeding can be used to increase the desirable components of edible oils. Geographic, culture and environmental factors can influence the properties of the oil produced by crops, and methods of processing can greatly reduce the levels of health promoting components. Despite the current anti‐GMO sentiments, biotechnology should be used both in the development of plant cultivars which produce nutritional oils and in processing to maximize the desirable components.

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The potato cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, is a quarantine pest in Australia affecting a relatively small number of properties in three different production areas in the State of Victoria. The effects of susceptible (Trent, Sebago and Coliban) and H1‐resistant potato cultivars (Atlantic, Crop 13 and Nicola) on nematode populations were compared in two trials in a naturally infested field in the 2008/09 season (Trial 1) and in the 2009/10 season (Trial 2). The latter included a bare fallow treatment. The reproduction factor Pf/Pi (final compared with initial nematode population) was used to determine treatment effects. Initial population density was very high, averaging 111 and 119 eggs g−1 soil in Trial 1 and 2, respectively. The Pf/Pi of population density (eggs g−1 soil) was greater after growing susceptible cultivars (average 1.74 and 2.92 in Trials 1 and 2, respectively) than after growing resistant cultivars (average 0.72 and 0.61 in Trials 1 and 2, respectively), or after a bare fallow (1.09) in Trial 2. This correlated with higher Pf/Pi values of cysts 500 g−1 soil and eggs cyst−1 for susceptible cultivars than for resistant cultivars. Average Pf/Pi values greater than one in both trials are consistent with more cysts and an increased population density after growing susceptible cultivars. There was a trend of population decline, that is, Pf/Pi < 1, after growing resistant cultivars (average Pf/Pi values of eggs cyst−1 of 0.77 and 0.35 and of eggs g−1 soil of 0.72 and 0.61, for Trials 1 and 2, respectively). However, Trial 2 showed that these Pf/Pi values were not significantly less than those for the bare fallow (0.68 eggs cyst−1 and 1.09 eggs g−1 soil). The susceptible cultivars Trent and Sebago produced lower yields than the resistant cultivars in both trials. In contrast, the susceptible Coliban yielded as well as the resistant cultivars, suggesting a high level of tolerance of this cultivar to infestation by the nematode. The resistant cultivar Crop 13 produced 34% and 36% greater total yields in Trials 1 and 2, respectively, than the once popular, but susceptible cultivar Sebago. This is the first report of the effects of potato cultivars on a population of the potato cyst nematode in an Australian field. The use of H1‐resistant potato cultivars can feasibly reduce populations of G. rostochiensis Ro1 on infested land and reduce PCN risk on land regulated as “linked” with infested land.

The fluorescent DNA probes DAPI and Hoechst 33258 produce superior images to the traditional acetocarmine stain of the small chromosomes of the woody shrub Thryptomene calycina at all stages of microsporocyte meiosis and microspore mitosis. Hoechst 33258 was slightly superior to DAPI because of reduced background fluorescence. Binding with the DNA-specific probes required a fixative containing chloroform to remove autofluorescent materials, a pretreatment with acetic acid and a pH of least 6 during treatment. The nucleoli did not fluoresce after treatment with DAPI or Hoechst 33258. Superior resolution of chromosomes after treatment with the fluorochromes enabled easy determination of the haploid number at metaphase I, metaphase II and at metaphase of the microspore mitosis.