Development of B. carinata with super-high erucic acid content through interspecific hybridization

Abstract

Key message Disomic alien chromosome addition Brassica carinata lines with super-high erucic acid content were developed through interspecific hybridization with B. juncea and characterized using molecular, cytological and biochemical techniques. Abstract Brassica carinata [A.] Braun (BBCC, 2n = 34) is a climate-resilient oilseed. Its seed oil is high in erucic acid (> 40%), rendering it well suited for the production of biofuel and other bio-based applications. To enhance the competitiveness of B. carinata with high erucic B. napus (HEAR), lines with super-high erucic acid content were developed through interspecific hybridization. To this end, a fad2B null allele from Brassica juncea (AABB, 2n = 36) was introgressed into B. carinata, resulting in a B. carinata fad2B mutant with erucic acid levels of over 50%. Subsequently, the FAE allele from B. rapa spp. yellow sarson (AA, 2n = 20) was transferred to the fad2B B. carinata line, yielding lines with erucic acid contents of up to 57.9%. Molecular analysis using the Brassica 90 K Illumina Infinium™ SNP genotyping array identified these lines as disomic alien chromosome addition lines, with two extra A08 chromosomes containing the BrFAE gene. The alien chromosomes from B. rapa were clearly distinguished by molecular cytogenetics in one of the addition lines. Analysis of microspore-derived offspring and hybrids from crosses with a CMS B. carinata line showed that the transfer rate of the A08 chromosome into male gametes was over 98%, resulting in almost completely stable transmission of an A08 chromosome copy into the progeny. The increase in erucic acid levels was accompanied by changes in the proportions of other fatty acids depending on the genetic changes that were introduced in the interspecific hybrids, providing valuable insights into erucic acid metabolism in Brassica.

Rapid and Non-Destructive Determination of Fatty Acid Profile and Oil Content in Diverse Brassica carinata Germplasm Using Fourier-Transform Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

“…The mean value of erucic acid in this study was 41.66%, which is in agreement with the result (42.1%) reported by Warwick et al [28], but greater than that (33.4%) reported by Teklewold and Becker [27]. Genotypes with an above-average erucic acid content (>41.66) are useful for various oleochemical chemical industry applications such as in the biofuel, lubricant, detergent, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries [4,29]. The levels of oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2) were found to be within the ranges of 7.23-12.6% (mean, 9.22%) and 13.26-21.81% (mean, 16.93%), respectively.…”

“…Currently, the crop is considered as an emerging oilseed crop dedicated to the production of specialty oil for industrial use [1]. The high levels of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA), especially erucic acid (C22:1) and its derivatives, make carinata suited to industrial applications such as biofuel, lubricants, cosmetics, and other oleochemical industries [2][3][4].…”

Plant monounsaturated fatty acids: Diversity, biosynthesis, functions and uses

“…Conventional breeding in the Brassica genus relying on interspecific hybridizations allowing for the transfer of useful adaptive traits between species was extensively conducted to obtain varieties rich in erucic acid. For example, Brassica carinata lines with erucic acid levels close to 60% were developed through interspecific hybridization [365].…”

Enhancing Erucic Acid and Wax Ester Production in Brassica carinata through Metabolic Engineering for Industrial Applications

“…Carinata has become one of the potential oil crops for bio-industrial applications due to its naturally high levels of the very long-chain fatty acid, erucic acid (C22:1) (EA) [ 5 ]. EA and its derivatives are used in various industrial applications such as lubricants, detergents and film processing agents, as well as in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”